A GRANDAD karaoke star who had a brush with rockstar fame has been chosen to be one of two singing sales assistants at Colchester’s Fenwick store.

Robert Hardaker was among 72 hopefuls who applied for the £10-per-hour seasonal job to sell the Lucky Voice karaoke machine to customers using their vocal talents.

The 60-year-old former double-glazing salesman from Holland-on-Sea wowed store bosses at the upmarket shop with his charisma and wide-ranging repertoire.

Lucky Voice machines have been flying off the shelves since he started his job this week.

Robert said: “I don’t really see it as a job. At the end of the day I walk into a store, I don’t set anything up, I walk over and start singing and they pay £10 an hour. It is more of a lifestyle.”

Robert was invited to meet bosses who asked if he could sing acapella and he was given a trial run in the toy department.

“The compliments just poured in,” said Robert, who has an 18-month-old grandson, Christopher.

“I really know how to gel with children and the customers.” he added.

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Robert’s singing talents shone as lead singer of Widow, based in Basildon in the 80s, who supported pop duo Erasure.

He said: “I am used to being a star. It was great - crowds in excess of 15,000, I have done radio chats, have been in papers and in front of TV audiences of six million.”

But rockin’ Robert never got his lucky break to catapult him into super-stardom.

He returned to his native Liverpool before returning to Essex with wife, Jill, last year to see more of their two children.

So far songs proving popular with Fenwick customers are Let It Go from the Disney film, Frozen, the Monster Mash and Elvis and Frank Sinatra hits.

The role is also proving to be a hit with Robert who managed to sell six Lucky Voice machines on one day alone.

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He added: “I am finding it wonderful. The staff are wonderful. I am surrounded by beautiful young ladies and it is a lovely environment. I have never worked in a store before and this one is just lovely.

“To me is not about the money.”

Robert shares the role with Tara Devine, 20, from Colchester.