IT WAS her husband’s dying wish for her to perform on The Voice.

And Susan Lovejoy, 49, from Carterton, is taking to the stage in memory of Stephen, who died three years ago after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The NHS worker will appear in front of millions of television viewers tonight as she takes centre stage on the BBC One talent show.

Susan said her husband’s spirit would be with her when she walks out in front of the panel featuring Sir Tom Jones and Will.i.am.

She met her husband Stephen at a bar she sang at in Dubai in 1995, while Stephen was working there as a civil engineer.

They married a year later in Dubai before moving back to Oxfordshire, Stephen’s home county.

Susan got a job in the NHS and Stephen continued to work as an engineer for East London firm R O’Rourke & Son.

The pair were married for nearly 16 years before Stephen died, aged just 49.

But before his death, Stephen urged his wife to follow her dream and become the artist she so badly wanted to be.

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Susan, who was born in the Philippines, said: “My husband told me that I should go on the show because he thought I had the talent and because he believed I could make it.

“I have always loved singing and before Stephen passed away, we used to enjoy watching the show.

“He used to tell me that I should go on.

“It’s my dream and I knew I always wanted to become a professional artist.”

Susan will sing MacArthur Park, originally recorded by Donna Summer and Richard Harris.

And whatever the outcome tonight, she believes getting this far has been a great achievement.

She added: “There was an audition advertised so I thought I’d go along to London.

“Then when I got there I said I wasn’t going in because I got nervous, but my friend Lydia (Sumang) told me to go for it.

“Then I thought ‘I’m going to do it for Stephen’ and whether I get through or not at least I tried.”

Susan was overwhelmed with the news that she had made it to the TV show.

She said the whole experience so far had been a dream and that she is so grateful of the support of all her friends and family.

“It was hard for me when Stephen died but I believe in spirits and I think he will be there all the way with me,” she added.

“To sing in front of Tom Jones and Will.i.am is going to be amazing, it’s an experience of a lifetime.

“For someone like me to get one chance is great, doing the rehearsals on the stage was great as they showed us exactly how it’s going to be.”