Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan pose with members of the
cast of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace
theatre in London in June 2009. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty
Images)
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan will end more than two
decades of anticipation in London this week when they team up
on stage for the first live performance of their number one
hit, Especially For You.
The former Ramsay Street sweethearts will be the centrepiece
of Friday night's Hit Factory Live concert in the English
capital as they present their much-loved duet.
Concert organisers this week revealed Minogue's involvement,
having previously advertised only a "very special guest".
"The Hit Factory audience are in for a very special treat as
Kylie Minogue is confirmed to bring the show to an
unforgettable end by performing with Jason (Donovan) on
Especially For You," a statement said.
"They last performed it together in 1989."
The concert celebrates the work of songwriting and production
team Stock Aitken Waterman, which penned several hits
including Especially For You.
Released in November 1988 - after Minogue had left the cast
of Neighbours where she played the part of Charlene alongside
Donovan's character Scott - the single achieved prolonged
chart success in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, along
with other European countries.
A spokeswoman for Hit Factory confirmed the pair has never
performed the song live, although Minogue has included the
tune in some of her tours and sang the duet with Kermit the
Frog for a TV special in 2001.
Minogue and Donovan's reunion was initially scheduled for
July but the outdoor Hit Factory concert had to be postponed
due to rain.
Before the delay, Minogue had spoken of the hype she expected
as she took to the stage with her former Neighbours husband.
"I don't think we'll even need to sing it. I'm sure the
audience all went through the Neighbours wedding. It's going
to bring the house down," she told Glamour magazine.
Especially For You will end a concert that includes
performances by Bananarama, Rick Astley, Steps, Dead or
Alive, Sinitta and others.
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