I had to have a word with myself not to swoon over Jason... I was very giddy

Dingle starstuck by Neighbours idol

- BY CHRISTINE SMITH

EMMERDALE'S Lydia Dingle was not the only one to be starstruck when Jason Donovan sang Too Many Broken Hearts at a private concert in her honour.

Karen Blick, who portrays the character, confesses the thrilling scenes being shown tonight - required no acting.

She was as smitten as Lydia was meant to be, as she hung on every word of Jason's performance - arranged by Kim Tate.

Kim's kindness came after cash-strapped Lydia had to use the £200 she had saved to see the former Neighbours star in concert for bills instead.

And Karen, 51, says watching him sing was a dream come true for her, too.

She revealed: "I loved Jason back in the day in Neighbours and I can still remember watching him as Scott when he got married to Kylie's character, Charlene. It was massive.

"I have always been a fan of Neighbours."

When she heard Jason, 57, was going to be on set, she adds: "I did a little dance in the office.

"I then did warn the team no acting would be required. I knew I would be starstruck and gobsmacked, too."

And the Australian star was even better than she had expected.

"On the day of filming, I found myself getting quite giddy and I did have to pull myself together thinking, 'Don't be swooning over Jason Donovan,'" Karen says.

"Jason is normally used to performing to large numbers in big arenas, so it must have felt a bit strange being in the Woolpack with just a few cast members.