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We've already had a look at the movie stars who once had a crack at the world of rock'n'roll but failed miserably. However there are a different breed of actors who have dipped a toe in music with more successful results. These are the ones who've put out a song or two, often just as a sideline, and ended up having significant success. Here's our list of ten thesps who've had pop hits...
Anita Dobson – Anyone Can Fall In Love.
She was playing Angie Watts in East Enders at the time, hence putting out a song that put words to the show's theme tune. It reached number 4 in 1986. She was later involved in the most narcissistic marriage in pop when she tied the knot with Queen's curly guitarist, Brian May.
Clive Dunn – Granddad
Famous for his role as Corporal Jones in Dads Army, Dunn put out this song to celebrate his 51st birthday in 1971. It went to number 1 and later spawned a TV series of the same name.
Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)
Stacked with innuendo and capitalising on Hill's popularity at the time, it was Christmas number 1 in 1971. Was also included in David Cameron's Desert Island Discs. Are you sure you want him to run the nation?
Telly Savalas – If
Kojak's spoken version of the Bread song was number 1 in Europe for ten weeks in 1975.
David Soul – Don't Give Up On Us Baby
Honoured by Owen Wilson in the movie re-make of the legendary Starsky & Hutch series, this topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1976 and temporarily made woolly cardigans chic.
Bruce Willis – Under the Boardwalk
Taken from Willis' covers album of soul classics. Stiffed in the US but the Brits lapped it up and it went to number two in 1987.
Dennis Waterman – I Could Be So Good For You
Waterman starred in and sang the theme tune to popular 80s TV series, Minder. The record went to number three in 1980 and also became a hit in Australia of all places.
Kate Winslett – What If
Taken from the animated movie Christmas Carol to which Winslet lent her voice. It reached number 6 in 2001 and the proceeds went to the NSPCC.
Don Johnson – Heartbeat
With Miami Vice ruling the roost on TV, Johnson, a long time friend of Willie Nelson, tried to dominate the airwaves, too. This single was the title track of his album and went to number 5 in the US Billboard Top 100.
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You're The One That I Want
Taken from the movie, Grease, in which the pair starred, this John Farrar-penned tune was number 1 in 13 countries in 1978, and remains the sixth biggest-selling UK single of all time.
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