Bee Gee to judge in Fame Academy

Former Bee Gees star Robin Gibb is going back to music school – as a judge on the second series of Fame Academy, it was revealed today.

The 53-year-old disco pioneer was selected to join academy “headmaster” and singing coach Carrie Grant to give some credibility to the BBC show, which hits the screens at the end of the month.

In a further change to last year’s talent show format, viewers will also get the chance to vote for the students who get to enter the academy.

Twenty five eager hopefuls have already been selected and viewers will be able to vote to select the final 13 students.

David Joseph, 35, joint managing director of Polydor records which will record the winner’s songs, said: “Robin will bring credibility and experience and over 30 years’ experience in the industry. It will be a surprise to everyone that someone who has sold 110 million records is a judge on the show.

“Robin agreed that because of the song-writing element of the show that we had a chance of finding someone who will be around for a few years and challenge the mould.”

But, he admitted he did have initial reservations about the project.

“I wasn’t completely sold when we were invited to participate. I was unsure that these type of shows can actually sustain an artist’s career,” he added.

“We all know they can launch them but because these shows are only three or four years old it’s yet to be proved that an artist can come out of them that can last years.”

The winner will sign a three-album contract with Polydor, the company behind Eminem, Sting and Ms Dynamite.

They will also land a showbiz lifestyle for a year which includes a luxury flat, a top-of-the-range sports car, a recording session at Abbey Road studios, a luxury holiday for two, a personal stylist and VIP tickets to some of the year’s biggest events.

Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty return to host the show.

“After series one we wondered if it was going to come back but after Comic Relief Fame Academy it had to come back because of the huge viewing figures,” Deeley said.

She said she thought giving viewers the chance to vote for the contestants would involve them more in the show.

Kielty said: “The first show took off to a shaky start but turned out good in the end.”

He said he was looking forward to presenting and said that this year’s students were even better than the last.

“People in the music business who know about these things have said that these students are very different from last year’s and are even better.”

Mr Joseph said the winner would have to show something special and he said the British public were secretly waiting to be surprised by reality talent shows.

“It’s really about someone doing something special. I do believe people are awaiting for someone amazing to come out of this and if they don’t people will soon turn off.”