"It was mum's birthday on Thursday and I missed it so I'll be singing for her, and for everyone in Blackpool who has been supporting me throughout this amazing journey," said Jodie, who needs the lion's share of the nation's vote beat her two rivals to the role of Nancy in a West End revival of Oliver!

Parents Madeleine and Marty, will take her a Gazette "Jodie edition" front page – a good luck message from her home town newspaper when they go to cheer her on in London.

Brother, Marko,21, will be there too, along with Jodie's fiance, Steve Greengrass.

"Whoever I'm sitting next to ends up with a dislocated knee because I'm holding on so tight," said Madeleine.

"Until you hear Graham Norton say 'Jodie, you could could be Nancy' you never know how it is going to go."

Proud dad Marty said: "I love watching Jodie on stage, I wouldn't miss it for the world?"

Elizabeth Smithies, Jodie's head teacher at the former private girls' school, Elmslie, is among the huge numbers of friends and wellwishers who have been in touch.

Madeleine said: "She is very proud of Jodie.

"She also said how appropriate it is that she should be in purple – Elmslie's uniform colour!"

Madeleine and Marty, of Newton Drive, Blackpool, said staff and residents at their North Shore rest home, Golden Years, will tune in this weekend as they have every week.

The couple have supported their daughter's showbiz career ever since she started singing as a little girl.

Despite the show being watched by six million viewer Marty insists fame won't change Jodie

He said: "She won't change a bit. She still won't be able to pass a £1 store!"