UK's top soap stars hiring themselves out as wedding singers

London, June 24 : Britain's top soap opera stars have found themselves another job - hiring themselves out as wedding singers - charging 1,250 pounds a tune.

Corrie babe Tupele Dorgu, 30, has launched her own entertainment agency supplying past and present stars for couples' big days.

But the likes of Kym Marsh, 32 (who plays Michelle Connor), Suranne Jones, 29 (Karen McDonald) and Emmerdale's Roxanne Pallett, 25 (Jo Stiles), do not come cheap.

They charge 2,500 pounds to sing just two songs.

A group of four Corrie stars recently put on a cabaret night for a businessman's 50th birthday, singing a couple of numbers each for 20,000 pounds.

Despite the fearsome fees Tupele - who plays knicker-stitcher Kelly Crabtree - reckons plenty of telly fans are willing to splash the cash to be serenaded at their wedding by their soap idols.

Her firm SugarStorm also provides soap stars for award ceremonies, corporate bashes and birthdays.

Tupele's website asks: "How much would your guests love to see one of TV's hottest stars at their annual corporate event or at your wedding?"

"Nowadays celebrities are multi-talented and will not only sign autographs for you but some will even sing while others are accomplished after-dinner speakers," The Daily Star quoted the site, as stating.

She hit on the idea to help former soap stars who have sometimes struggled for work after leaving shows.

Tupele said: "We wanted to provide exciting entertainment for our clients, but also to look after the artistes so they know exactly what is expected of them and when they get paid."

upele, who is also available to hire for events, added: "I've no intention of leaving Coronation Street yet. But having SugarStorm means I can invest my energy in something else."

ANI