New Popstars show to hold open auditions

There will be an open audition for Popstars: The Rivals at Wembley Conference Centre in north west London on Friday, due to overwhelming demand.

Another open audition for the TV talent show will be held at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester on Friday August 16.

Today 400 hopefuls turned up to invitation-only auditions in front of judges Geri Halliwell, Pete Waterman and Westlife manager Louis Walsh.

They were selected to attend the Wembley venue after sending in audition tapes.

Halliwell had earlier promised to handle the wannabes with tact and compassion.

But one, Carol Lynch, 19, claimed the former Spice Girl made a cruel jibe about her weight during her audition.

The size-16 shop assistant from Basildon, Essex said: "When I finished singing, Pete or Louis said I was a larger-than-life character.

"Then Geri said: 'yeah, very larger than life' in a sarky way."

Referring to Halliwell's much-publicised eating disorders, Carol said: "She looks like a child: She's got the figure of an eight-year-old. I'm not eating food and throwing it up in a toilet for anyone."

Popstars: The Rivals will create one boy band and one girl band who will battle it out for the Christmas number one.