Dame Judi Dench and Sharleen Spiteri join together to sing a rendition of ABBA’s Waterloo
Dame Judi Dench and Sharleen Spiteri joined forces on Saturday for an impromptu New Year’s Eve performance at an Aberdeenshire hotel.
The veteran actress, 88, and the Scottish singer, 55, performed ABBA’s Waterloo duet at The Fife Arms in Braemar.
In a video shared on Twitter, Sharleen can be seen singing the chorus while Dame Judi convincingly pretends to play a piano.
Happy New Year! Dame Judi Dench and Sharleen Spiteri joined forces on Saturday for an impromptu New Year’s Eve performance at an Aberdeenshire hotel.
The Oscar winner then joins in with backing vocals, while Sharleen jokingly declares, ‘What a pianist!’
The two ladies sported coordinated black ensembles, with Texas leader Sharleen donning a tartan sash, as they sat back to back on a piano stool.
Ewan Venters, CEO of Artfarm, which owns The Fife Arms, was the one who posted the video on social media, where it racked up views.
speaking to bbc scotlandhe described the crowd’s reaction to the performance as “joyful”.
Impromptu: The veteran actress, 88, and the Scottish singer, 55, sang a duet rendition of ABBA’s Waterloo at The Fife Arms in Braemar.
He said: ‘Judi Dench and Sharleen Spiteri were staying at the hotel and we had an impromptu moment at the piano.
“It was a happy evening with many guests and locals applauding.”
He said the pair broke into song just before the midnight fireworks, adding: “It was a classic Scottish Hogmanay party at The Fife Arms.”
“The hotel was fully booked, with a four-course dinner and a very hectic ceilidh.”
Stunning: In a video shared on Twitter, Sharleen can be seen singing the chorus while Dame Judi convincingly pretends to play a piano
The fun-filled performance comes after Dame Judi said she ‘adores’ Jay Blades after he helped fix her late husband Michael Williams’ watch at The Repair Shop.
The James Bond star had the sentimental item bearing Michael’s initials repaired and recorded as part of a special live BBC One session held at the Edinburgh Television Festival earlier this year to mark the fifth program anniversary.
In a conversation with Gyles Brandreth during a Christmas edition of I Remember It Well at London’s Garrick Theatre, Dame Judi said of the show according to the Mirror: ‘I see. I adore Jay Blades. What are Jay’s qualities? Do you have a week or two? We are big fans of The Repair Shop.’
Delighted: Fun-filled performance comes after Dame Judi says she ‘adores’ Jay Blades after he helped fix her late husband Michael Williams’ watch at The Repair Shop
She added: ‘I can’t resist seeing people doing things and I like to arrange things so that people recognize it’s theirs. So it doesn’t look new, just the state they first had it in.’
During a live version of The Repair Shop this summer, Dame Judi told furniture restorer and talk show host Jay, 52, that she had given Michael the watch while they were starring in a play together and that he had given it to her. used during production.
She said she then carried it in her pocket and ‘treasured’ it before she died of lung cancer in 2001 at the age of 65, after having been married for just under 30 years.
Looking back: Michael died of lung cancer in 2001 at the age of 65 after being married for just under 30 years (pictured in 2000)
One clip showed watchmaker Steve Fletcher dismantling the watch so he could give it a thorough cleaning and repair its mechanisms.
When Dame Judi received the repaired watch live on stage at the television festival, she was thrilled, describing the work as “sublime” as she held it to her ear to hear it tick again after many years of silence.
The team also noted that they had engraved her husband’s initials on the back of the watch for her, to which she replied, “Oh my word, that’s more than I could hope for.” Thanks a lot.’
Fixed: The veteran actress had the sentimental item arranged and engraved with Michael’s initials as part of a live session of the show held at the Edinburgh Television Festival earlier this year (L-R: Dame Judi is seen with Jay and watchmaker Steve Fletcher)
She added that she was “full of admiration” for the work they do and is an avid viewer of the show.
When asked what he intended to do with the watch, he said he would like to pass it on to his daughter Finty or grandson Stanley.
Dame Judi and her late husband Michael became household names appearing together on the hit ITV sitcom A Fine Romance, about the on-again-off-again relationship between Mike and Laura, an unlikely pair of middle-aged bachelors brought together by the matchmaker sister of Laura, played by Susan Penhaligon.
The show ran for 26 episodes over four series from 1981 to 1984, drawing millions of viewers on Sunday nights.
Dame Judi described her late husband as “wonderful” and said it would be “delightful” if she could hear the pocket watch tick again as a reminder of the times they shared.
RIP: Dame Judi described her late husband as “wonderful” and said it would be “lovely” if she could hear the pocket watch tick again as a reminder of the times they shared (pictured in 2000)