Barbara Dickson, singer and actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel during a party to promote her latest stage show, The Seven Ages of Woman, at the Groucho Club in London. Barbara, who was born in Fife, first started performing in local folk clubs while working for the civil service. An appearance at the Liverpool Everyman in 1974 in Willy Russell's musical John, Paul, Ringo... and Bert led to a recording contract, and the title track of her first album, Answer Me, became a Top 10 hit in 1976. In 1982 her leading role in Willy Russell's new musical Blood Brothers, achieved critical acclaim and she was named Actress of the Year in a Musical by the Society of West End Theatres in 1984. In the same year her duet with Elaine Page, I Know Him So Well, from the musical Chess, became a worldwide hit. During the 1990s, Barbara appeared in various television dramas including Taggart and Band of Gold.