DO you fancy yourself as the next Kylie or Justin Timberlake? If so, a new talent contest is the perfect way to show off your skills and be in with a chance of winning £25,000 worth of prizes.
Talented types from Huddersfield are being invited to take part in national contest Idol 2008.
Auditions for the talent contest have just opened and, for the first time, the competition is open to dancers and dance groups.
For the past three years, it has only been open to singers and vocal groups.
Every year, the contest has grown in popularity and has 10,000 applicants last year. Already 7,000 singers and dancers are registered for the contest at auditions taking place around the country this month.
There will be a heat at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall on August 16.
Competitors selected from the first auditions will perform live in front of large audiences at regional heats.
Should they make it further, they will have to impress a panel of celebrity judges.
This year’s panel is made up of former Atomic Kitten singer Liz McLarnon, ex-Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker, former Steps star Lee Latchford-Evans, boyband idol Dane Bowers, X-Factor contestant Ben Mills, TV and cruise ship singing star Jane McDonald, dancer Tim Noble and stylist Mark Hill.
They will judge singers and dancers in two age groups, under 18 and over 18. After all the regional heats, there will be a national grand final, where the judge’s choice as Idol 2008 will receive up to £25,000 in prizes.
The prizes vary depending on whether the winner is a vocal or dance act. Singers will receive a recording contract for a single, with the aim of getting it into the UK charts.
Dancers will get the chance to go on a UK tour and appear in a video.
Last year’s winners B-Kay & Kazz stormed the charts this July with their debut single, ‘You Know It’s Right, which hit the top 30.
Even if you don’t win the contest, the aim of Idol 2008 is to give talented performers the chance to showcase their skills before industry experts.
During the later heats, there will be invited guests from record labels, agencies and entertainment companies watching from the wings.
If you want to be snapped up, you can enter the contest online by visiting www.Idol.uk.com. Alternatively, email info@Idol.uk.com or call 02380 529966.
