Downtown with Petula Clark

3:31pm Tuesday 3rd June 2008

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Despite the fact she's still enjoying a seven-decade career and has recorded thousands of songs, Petula Clark still admits to getting nervous before a night on the big stage.

The 75-year-old has been in the entertainment business all her life, having sung to troops as a child prodigy in the Second World War, but despite her vast experience, the thrill of performing new songs on stage still gives her butterflies.

"I will probably be a little nervous because I'm putting in some new stuff."

"I will probably be a little nervous because I'm putting in some new stuff which I enjoy doing and always try to do," she said.

"But it's all stuff I haven't performed on stage before and with new songs you never know if people are going to like them or not or if they will work on stage."

Don't fret Pet fans, naturally the anthems which have secured her longevity have a place reserved on the set list.

"I will of course be doing the classics as well," she said. "I don't think they would let me go on stage without singing some of the old stuff."

"I don't think they would let me go on stage without singing some of the old stuff."

Among her "old stuff" one timeless classic stands out.

The 1964 hit Downtown was the first song by a British female artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100 charts and won her a Grammy for best rock and roll song.

Despite it being 44 years old, Clark insists she never gets tired of singing it.

"I went through one time in the 1970s when I thought I don't know how to sing this anymore'," she said, "I think I forgot the lyrics once but it was a phase which didn't last long.

"I have sung it I don't know how many times and it's a song which has a life of its own. It's just an amazing song."

With thousands of songs to choose from, Clark also said deciding the song list for her performances is not as difficult as you might expect it to be.

"I have sung Downtown I don't know how many times and it's a song which has a life of its own. It's just an amazing song."

"It's amazing how little time you have. I sing the hits, do stuff from the shows I have been in, do a bit of poetry and play songs from the new CD and by the time I have done that we are running out of time."

Be sure you don't run out of time too, and secure tickets to see the 1960s star who is still shining.

Petula Clark, Fairfield Halls, June 5 at 8pm, For tickets call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk