"I'm a Dolly Parton impersonator - but couldn't tell her when I met her"

A Dolly Parton super-fan has said she was too "overcome" when coming face to face with her idol to tell her that she had been earning a living impersonating her for 20 years.

Andrea Pattison, 53, has been performing as a Dolly Parton tribute artist for 20 years - in theatres, on cruises and at weddings and parties.

She eventually met her idol in 2008, when a friend won two places in a meet and greet at Manchester Arena - but says she was so overwhelmed that she couldn't pluck up the courage to tell the superstar what she does.

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Andrea, from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, said: "Most people would have been the opposite, but I was just so overcome with emotion, I just didn’t have it in me to tell her. It was still so amazing to meet her though - she was so lovely."

Andrea claims the journey into her unique career happened almost by accident.

She started off as a wedding performer aged 26, but kept being told how much of a resemblance she bore to Dolly - and the resemblance was not just physical.

"I grew up in deprived background in Sunderland and I was one of six – Dolly was one of 12, so we are similar in that respect too," she said.

Over the years Andrea has performed in a National Theatre show and on cruises for P&O - she's entertained as far afield as the Shetland Islands and Ireland too.

Andrea's schedule can be quite unpredictable - with her performing up to five shows in one week with others being completely quiet - but says most weekends see her out performing.

In the year before the pandemic Andrea "a very good living" from her shows, however lockdown was a difficult time for her – and she