BURNLEY actor Chris Parkinson was back on TV screens on Saturday — but this time he was cheering on his girlfriend.

The Ightenhill lad, who has starred in Doctors and the film Magnificent 7 opposite Helena Bonham Carter, appeared on BBC talent show The Voice supporting singer Kelsey-Beth Crossley.

She won over judges Kylie Minogue and Ricky Wilson with her rendition of Joss Stone’s Fell In Love With A Boy. Mr Parkinson, a former St Mary Magdalene’s RC Primary School pupil, could be seen celebrating wildly backstage after Miss Crossley progressed to the next round of the competition. Miss Crossley played Scarlett Nicholls in Emmerdale for five years.

Before her performance, she told the programme: “Me and Kylie have in common that we both were from a soap. She has had a massive career in the music industry since then.

“I love to sing and it was the first thing I got into but when I got into Emmerdale I had to put it on the back burner a little bit.

“I am serious about being a musician.”

After winning over the two judges, she said to Minogue: “I’m shocked, thank you.

“I’m overwhelmed.”

“I’m completely torn because on one side of things you’re an inspiration but his pitch was so good.”

She eventually picked Kaiser Chiefs singer Wilson as her mentor because of her connections filming Emmerdale in his home city of Leeds.

Fellow judge Sir Tom Jones said of her performance: “It was really something.

“I really enjoyed it.”