Celebrity You’re A Star to break record for charities
But the organisers say they will not know exactly how the charities have benefited from the competition until two months after the competition has ended.
Both VAT and the mobile telephone companies’ charges will have to be deducted before the amount of money raised is known.
After the competition’s highly successful debut last year, producers Shinawil decided to put on an extra two shows, with 10 shows in total spread over a two-week run.
Twink (aka Adele King), who has been helping the celebrities give their best, has been busy putting the three remaining contestants, Áine Ní Dhroighneáin, Dáithí Ó Sé and John Aldridge, through their paces. Twink said the three finalists were all exhausted but were bearing up well.
“They are all in at 9.30am every morning to learn new songs, new choreography, more microphone techniques and breathing exercises. It really is very tough on them,” she said.
While Áine is Twink’s favourite celebrity, she believes tonight’s semi-final at the Helix in Dublin will see Dáithí and John being voted through by viewers to tomorrow’s final.
“I don’t know, I could be wrong but, if talent is to win, it will be Dáithí,” she said.
The competition has been a very thorny bed of roses for John who has bravely soldiered on for his charity. Despite being a poor singer, Aldridge continues to grace the stage because he is such a likeable character.
“It would be really ironic if a former record-scoring footballer became a record making one,” he said yesterday.
And Áine has revealed how she was fighting a stomach bug and fighting back the tears last week when judges Brendan O’Connor, Linda Martin and Louis Walsh gave her a roasting for her rendition of Big Yellow Taxi.
“Usually, I just take it on the chin but when you are sick everything gets to you,” she said.
Dáithí has discovered that he is getting known, not for his singing, but for his signature jump at the end of his performance.
“I was walking down the road in Dublin the other day and some young fellows shouted at me to do my jump. It is really funny to be known for a jump,” he said.
Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland footballer John Aldridge is singing for Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin.
“Aldo”, 48, is a full-time football pundit. Up to now he has only ever sung in public in Liverpool’s Anfield stadium. Despite not having a note in his head, he is one of the most popular contestants.
TG4 presenter/weatherman Dáithí Ó Sé, 30, was born and reared in Kerry but is based in Galway.
He has chosen the Make A Wish Foundation Ireland and has used up his summer holidays to take part in the competition.
The judges think he is the contestant most likely to be offered a singing career.
Áine Ní Dhroighneáin, 32, plays solicitor Tara in TG4’s Ros na Rún. A teacher for nine years, Áine was involved in amateur dramatics before joining the soap last summer. Áine chose Cancer Care West as her charity. Her only experience of singing in public was in a local pub. Despite being slated by the judges, she is in the semi-final.
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