FOR 18 years, Clare Grogan did not perform her Altered Images hits. “I had a break when I just couldn’t conceive singing the songs,” says the Glaswegian singer, songwriter, actress and eternal Eighties pop pin-up.

“But then I stopped being mildly embarrassed about ever singing Happy Birthday again and just embraced it and that was so liberating.”

She will sing that 1981 signature song once more tonight when she performs with the house band at the Eighties night at the York Races Music Showcase Weekend after racing on the Knavesmire course.

Clare, who turned 50 in March, will be sharing the bill with Soft Cell’s Marc Almond, ABC’s Martin Fry and Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, just as she would have done on Top Of The Pops.

“Having a house band means there’s no hold-up between acts and the show works really well. Everyone gets the chance to be 18 again with me as the world’s most embarrassing mum.”

Reflecting on reviving her Altered Images past, she says: “It was my family and friends that talked me into singing the songs again, and in a way when Elle came along, I kind of wanted her to see what I did and I just wanted her to experience it with me, going backstage with her mum.”

Elle Lucia is Clare’s seven-year-old daughter, now very much at the centre of her life with her husband in London.

Elle might even influence the order of the bill at these Eighties revival gigs. “It’s usually decided by me basically saying, ‘I’d like to go on not too late or I couldn’t get home for an early bath’,” says Clare. “How things have changed from the Eighties.

“I’ll probably go on first tonight. I go to the rehearsal, give it my all in the show and head home.”

Will Clare watch the evening’s racing before the concert? “I doubt I’ll get the chance to see it. That would be too much fun,” she says.

Clare’s short set, if it follows the pattern of her performance at Scone Palace, will feature Altered Images’ top five, Don’t Talk To Me About Love, See Those Eyes, Bring Me Closer, I Could Be happy and yes, 1981 number two Happy Birthday.

The Grogan voice, high and swooping and coquettishly girly, remains the distinctive siren call that first entranced the late Radio One presenter John Peel.

“For me, I’ve just gotten very used to my voice – though it’s a Marmite voice, I know,” says Clare.

“It’s very strange that over the years it hasn’t really changed though it has got a little deeper,” says Clare.

You may have heard that deepening tone if you watch the Channel 4 teen drama Skins. “When I was in the series, they asked me to sing some songs for the show, and the one they went for was Don’t Give Up Girl – my epitaph,” says Clare.

Far from giving up, Clare retains a busy professional life, combining it with the demands of motherhood. “Recently I did Waterloo Road for the BBC. Now that the filming has moved to Glasgow, I did a couple of episodes,” she says.

“I’ve also made a film, The Wee Man, with Martin Compston, which should be coming out very soon, in October I think. It’s the story behind a Glasgow gangster called Paul Ferris, who is now a successful writer and businessman. It tells you about his early years and what made him turn to a life of horrible violence and how he came out of that to start writing.

“It’s directed by Ray Burdis and made by a lot of people behind the film The Krays. I play the wee man’s mum and his dad is played by Denis Lawson. Nice parents. Where did it all go wrong?”

Clare first made young men swoon in 1980 when playing the beret-wearing Susan in Gregory’s Girl, Bill Forsyth’s Scottish comedy of football, crushes and the school playground, and her career shows no sign of abating.

“I find I’m going up to Glasgow once a week,” she says. “I’ve been juggling my stuff for 32 years and I keep thinking people will get fed up with me. I feel very fortunate, I really do.

“I think I’m still doing things because I diversify a lot and because I’ve never been tempted to expose my life on the Hello! or OK! route. It takes a strong character now to turn it down but I don’t feel the need to go beyond the call of duty to promote a film or show.”

• Altered Images’ Clare Grogan performs at York Races Music Showcase Weekend this evening, along with Tony Hadley, Marc Almond and ABC’s Martin Fry. Gates open at 4pm; first race, 6pm; last race, 8.30pm; the Eighties pop concert follows. Only racegoers may attend.

• MCFLY will play the York Races’ Music Showcase Weekend after tomorrow’s race card. Gates open at 11.15am; first race, 2.05pm; last race, 5.20pm; concert afterwards. Once more, only racegoers may attend; accompanied children will be admitted to the race day for free, as they will this evening.

McFly drummer Harry Judd says: “After our sold-out gig at the York Barbican in April, we’re very excited to be back in the city, performing at the racecourse. We really enjoy playing racecourses and, because we’ve heard there’s always an incredible atmosphere at York Races, we’re especially looking forward to performing.”