 The pathetically shy LV ( Jane Horrocks  (qv)) lives the life of a recluse listening to her late fathers old records in her room and in the process driving her abusive, loud-mouthed mother, Mari Hoff ( Brenda Blethyn  (qv)), to distraction. At night, however, when her father s ghost visits, LV sings the songs of the great divas such as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Bassey. One evening LV is overheard by one of her mother s loathsome boyfriends, the disastrous dead-end talent scout Ray Say ( Michael Caine  (qv)), who recognises her innate talent and realises this is his last big chance for the glittering prizes. Gambling everything Ray Say forces LV to appear at a local run-down, seedy night club run by Mr. Boo ( Jim Broadbent  (qv)). As preparations for the big event proceed apace LV meets the equally shy Billy ( Ewan McGregor  (qv)), a pigeon-racing telephone engineer and they form a tentative, gentle friendship. The big night finally arrives and everything is in readiness the band, the club and even a big agent from London, but what about LV?