Brian Beacom

THE DOLLS have been announced as the fastest rising comedy stars in the UK.

The comedy duo was formed three years ago when Gayle Telfer-Stevens and Louise McCarthy determined to seize the initiative and create work for themselves.

The act, featuring two man-mad Glasgow cleaners, began life in the bowling and social clubs of the west of Scotland.

This year however, the pair, under the aegis of producer Robert C Kelly, took to playing major theatre venues.

And they are set to launch a tour in the autumn, featuring major Scots and English dates.

But now the pair have been confirmed as the Number One act on the Rising Comedy list.

The list is made up of the Top 20 recently added acts to Ents24 , the UK’s biggest live guide, with two million monthly users and over five million ‘tracks’.

A spokesman for Ents 24 said; “We are seeing the fastest rise in members of the public tracking them, that is signing up to get live show info from a specific act.

“This is a list compiled based on genuine public interest, rather than a vote or panel decision.”

The spokesman added; “I’m pleased to say that The Dolls will be announced today as Number One on the list.”

The Dolls are delighted at the news.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be number one across the UK on the Ents24 Rising Comedy List.

“And we would love to say a huge thank you for the support from all our Dollies who come time and time again to our show, bringing new fans.”

The Dolls added; “It’s so lovely to receive this acknowledgement that our hard work and determination is paying off.”

The phenomenon that is The Dolls has already prompted newspaper headlines this year.

The act has attracted 30,000 followers on Facebook and pulled in an incredible three million YouTube hits.

As soon as their spring 13-date tour was announced, Motherwell sold out in an astonishing seven minutes and Falkirk in eight.

The King’s Theatre in Glasgow took 52 minutes but that is, after all, an 1800-seater auditorium.

It’s clear the partners in comedy have come up with a winning formula.

Glasgow cleaners Agnes and Sadie are always on the hunt for men, drink and men (they like men).

Women audiences love the formula. And The Dolls have developed into the most popular stage double act since Francie and Josie.

In their other professional lives, Gayle, from Renton in Dunbartonshire, stars in BBC soap River City while Maryhill-born McCarthy is a NTS luminary, starring recently in the likes of John Byrne’s comedy Cuttin’ A Rug.

However, their success story is not an instant one.

In fact, Gayle and Louise were both struggling performers who had success in London, but then their careers seemed to collapse.

When the West End work dried up they returned to Glasgow.

The struggling pair met at the Tron theatre one night where they fell in love with each other’s singing talent.

But there was more of a connection.

“I realised we were both the same, both working class,” says Gayle.

“We were artistes, yet wanted nothing to do with all that [posh voice] luvvy-darling stuff that gives me the pure boak.”

Louise, admits she too suffers from the pure boak at the very hint of pretentiousness.

“When Gayle walked into that dressing room and told a joke about a lassie going out on the mad wine, getting off with a bloke and waking up next to his pal, I said to her ‘Ah feel ah pure know you!’”

The singers grafted comedy onto their act when they realised the fee went up from £150 to £400.

Over the months, the pair refined their show, and eventually The Dolls Abroad emerged, a full-length theatre comedy, featuring riotous tales of clubbing, kidnapping, and carnage.

* The Dolls Autumn 2017 Tour details can be found at www.wearethedolls.com.