ASHLEY OLSEN - OLSEN TWINS MISSING PROM FOR SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Teen twins MARY-KATE and ASHLEY OLSEN are so excited about hosting SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE later this month (MAY04), they're happily missing their senior prom for the opportunity.

The 17-year-old twins will be leaving their home in California to go to university in New York in the autumn (04), but rather than bid farewell to their classmates in the traditional way on 15 May, they've opted to spend the big night performing comedy sketches in front of TV cameras.

Mary-Kate says, "I didn't realise they were the same night until someone asked me what I was going to wear. That's when I was like, 'It's the same night! Oh no, what are we going to do?' A few seconds later, I said, 'SNL, of course.'"

Ashley adds, "We couldn't pass up the opportunity to do a show we love, especially because we enjoy making fun of our image so much."

The pair even considered asking their school to change the prom night - but quickly thought better of it.

Ashley explains, "We thought that if the tabloids got hold of a story like that, they'd never let us live it down!"