Show hopes to find Ireland’s got talent

DO you belt out songs in the shower or your car while longing for the big-time?

Well now’s your chance to shine on national television and be in with a chance to win €50,000.

The All-Ireland Talent Show is an RTÉ television programme that will be presented by Gráinne Seoige early next year.

It is billed as Ireland’s biggest-ever countrywide talent contest and the search is on for untapped talent.

The show will mirror the hit ITV series Britain’s Got Talent won last year by Paul Potts, an unassuming mobile phone salesman from south Wales.

Mr Potts, who sang in front of Queen Elizabeth during the Royal Variety Show in February, has gone on to forge a successful music career in both Britain and the US.

And this year it was a young street dancer, George Sampson, 15, from Warrington, who won the second series of Britain’s Got Talent. The teenager had to dance on the streets on his home town in order to raise money to travel to London for the auditions.

The All-Ireland Talent Show, produced by Tyrone Productions for RTÉ, will be broadcast every Sunday night from January 4 next and auditions will be taking place over the next four weeks in five different locations around the country.

The final five contestants will go forward to the live finals, staged early next year, so 25 contestants in total will be competing for the cash prize and title of All-Ireland Talent Champion.

Gráinne, who was delighted to be asked to present the series, said she could not wait for work on the show to get under way.

“I think it will be really exciting and great fun. I think it will be a journey of discovery for all of us as to what kind of talent is hidden in Ireland.

“The surprise will be what kind of people come in the door and start performing. Everybody will have to be taken on their own merits. It is open to any age, any size act and any category so it is important to be open and encouraging.”

And what advice does she have to Ireland’s wannabes?

“Practice,” she said firmly.

Gráinne said they also wanted people to come out and support competitors from their region because they would be depending on their votes.

Auditions begin on November 15 in Dublin, and continue in Galway on November 22; Derry on November 29, Kilkenny on December 6 and Cork on December 13.

* For more information check out www.rte.ie/tv/talentshow or email [e-mail].