Anastacia offers European bands a big break on TV show

Pop star Anastacia has given a new European TV talent show a boost by publicly endorsing it and agreeing to appear.

The singer, who got her big break after appearing on a TV talent show in 1998, is one of the famous faces behind new MTV show A Cut.

And the 31-year-old insists the new five-part show will put shows like Pop Idol and American Idol to shame because it isn't about creating overnight stars.

She said: "There is a desperate need for a show like A Cut, because the shows that are out there are all pre-fabricated shows that are trying to make stars out of people that are just average, everyday people.

"In this business, TV is being taken up not by the true artists or the actors or the musicians any more, they are just being taken up by the common man, which gives everyone that feeling that there's a chance for me yet to be a star."

The new show aims to promote bands which are already playing and recording.

The winning act will get the chance to perform live in front of 35,000 fans at an upcoming Anastacia concert.