Rachel Stevens' gran lives in Staines

Nov 21 2008 By Ed Saunt

Pearl Hart

The grandmother of Strictly Come Dancing star Rachel Stevens has transformed her kitchen into a shrine to her celebrity granddaughter.

Pearl Hart's kitchen in London Road is plastered with S Club 7 posters (Rachel's former band) and the 79-year-old enjoys watching episodes of Strictly over and over again.

She said: "In my old age I have become a celebrity and strangers have come up and stopped me in the street.

"She's got lots of fans in every age group. When I go out in Staines people come up to me and all they want to talk about is Rachel. People who I have known from many years ago never knew I was Rachel's grandmother and were really surprised."

Rachel shot to fame aged 19 with teen pop group S Club 7 and, after mixed success as a solo artist, she has returned to the nation's consciousness in BBC1's hit Saturday night show.

And while she has won over scores of new fans of all ages, her self-proclaimed biggest supporter - grandmother Pearl - has appeared on the show and also enjoyed a dusting of fame.

Mrs Hart has lived in her home for more than 50 years and regularly had Rachel visit when she was young and took her shopping in the town.

She said: "We speak at least twice a week. We are very close. She's a very busy girl but she always makes time for her grandmother. She loved coming here when she was young.

"She was always very pretty. She's was very sweet and very caring even then and she has got a wonderful nature."

When Mrs Hart is not watching live in the studio, she sits at home nervously hoping Rachel gets her dance steps right before watching the videos again during the week.

And while she never hit the dizzy heights of her grandaughter, Mrs Hart was quite a mover in her youth but did not realise the talent had passed down the family.

She said: "I am not really talented but when I was young all I wanted to do was dance and went dancing almost every night. I even won competitions for jiving and jitterbugging.

"As a youngster Rachel always liked dancing but she never thought it would be something she would do as a career. She's doing so well and I hope people keep on voting for her."