Over-sized ballet dancers have already proved to be big stars – even before they appear on national TV tonight.

Carol Hartley, 39, of Mirfield, Claire O’Connor, 40, of Greetland, and Emma Wilson, 38, of Liversedge, feature on the Channel 4 show Big Ballet.

The three-part programme is about a group of 18 ‘plus-sized’ dancers who are trained to perform Swan Lake in front of an audience.

Since the Examiner revealed the trio’s part in the show, there has been a media frenzy.

The aim of the programme is to show that big girls can dance and that stick-thin isn’t always best.

Mum-of-one Carol, a size 22 when she started, said: “It has been a whirlwind.

“The Examiner was first but since then we have been in regional and national newspapers and national TV and radio stations.

“We don’t want to get too big for our boots but it’s great to be in the limelight. It’s like we are mini celebrities.”

The cameras follow the 16 women and two men as they go through a gruelling five-month training regime.

They were put through their paces by top ballet stars Wayne Sleep and Monica Loughman.

Carol, who appeared on the BBC’s One Show last night, said she expected Big Ballet to be another huge TV hit, following on from the success of Educating Yorkshire, which made stars of Dewsbury head teacher Jonny Mitchell and his senior staff at Thornhill Academy.

“I have had a sneak preview of the show and we think it is brilliant,” said Carol, a former professional showgirl.

“People are very excited about this but we will gauge the reaction when people have seen the programme.

“For me it was funny, heart-warming, sad and inspirational.”

Carol said Big Ballet wasn’t about mocking larger ladies, it was about proving that girls who dreamed of being ballet dancers didn’t have to conform to the tiny stereotype.

“There is a tremendous pressure on ballet dancers to be thin,” said Carol. “And that is a slippery slope towards eating disorders.”

Carol and her fellow dancers spent last weekend in Dublin at Monica’s studio.

“It was fantastic,” she said. “At first she comes across as very strict but she has to be.

“We all adore her now and this trip to Dublin will become an annual pilgrimage.”

Big Ballet is on Channel 4 at 9pm.