Summer nights will be spent proudly cheering in a television studio for one Borehamwood grandmother, who is hoping her grandson will triumph in ITV's Grease is The Word competition.

Bradley Clarkson, grandson of Freda Clarkson, 82, of Bullhead Road, is down to the final five couples in the Saturday night talent contest, which aims to find the next Danny and Sandy to star in the West End musical Grease.

Bradley, 25, who lived with his nan while working in London last year, has to perform a song and dance routine with his acting partner Michelle Antrobus each Saturday to win the public vote.

Judge David Ian has labelled Bradley the greatest actor in this competition'.

Each week, Mrs Clarkson travels down to the studio in Wembley with her son Eric, daughter-in-law Chrissie, and granddaughter Lydia, all from Datchworth, Hertfordshire.

"On the first week, I nearly passed out," said Mrs Clarkson. "It's so fantastic you're speechless." The Clarkson family attends a party after each show, where they chat to celebrity judges and guests.

Friends and neighbours from Borehamwood have helped Mrs Clarkson to put up posters all around town in a bid to garner support for Bradley, who was in the bottom two last week.

Bradley's father, who grew up in Bullhead Road, said the performing instinct ran in the family. "My father was a musician and I was one in the Sixties, touring with bands," he said. "I still play the guitar every day."

Bradley was a straight-A student at school, and achieved a degree in history and politics at the London School of Economics before finding work performing at theatres including the Bristol Old Vic.

But it was while he was starring in a pantomime last Christmas that his director suggested he should audition for Grease.

Mr Clarkson said: "The director suggested Bradley should sing rock n' roll, after years and years of me telling him the same, and to audition for Grease."

After an initial audition in January, a second in February and then boot camp' in March, Bradley beat hundreds of hopefuls to the live finals.

Family friend Richard Sussex, of Greenside, Borehamwood, has designed a website for him and Michelle so their fans can find out more about them.

To visit the website, log on to www.bradleyandmichelle.co.uk The next live show is tomorrow night, at 8pm, on ITV1.