PAUL HEATON and St Helens' own Jacqui Abbott have released a hilarious video for their first single starring Brookside stars Ron and Bev Dixon as their alter-egos.

The pair, who previously who performed together as the Beautiful South from 1994 to 2000, have released their new single You And Me (Were Meant To Be Together) from their forthcoming new album ‘Manchester Calling’.

Paul Heaton has been told for years he looks like Ron Dixon, the roguish character from legendary Liverpool-based TV soap Brookside, which dominated TV screens from 1982-2003.

So Heaton and Abbott tracked down ‘Ron Dixon’ (actor Vince Earl, 75) and his onscreen wife Bev (Sarah White), who agreed to play Heaton and Abbott’s slightly older alter egos.

It’s their first performance together since the last ever episode of Brookside.

The result is a rollicking barroom knees up, with double-takes a plenty when Paul and Jacqui and their uncanny (slightly more mature) lookalikes appear on screen together.

“We found him in a pub, singing” cackles Heaton, thrilled to find one of his many TV heroes in real life, “a right character”.

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott are going on a UK and Ireland tour in April & May with tickets at £30 each and include events at the Liverpool M&S Arena on Saturday, April 25 and Warrington's Neighbourhood Weekender on Sunday, May 24.

Tickets for the tour are available from gigsandtours.com

Their album Manchester Calling will be released on March 6.