Capital gets prepared to flaunt talent once again

Published on Wednesday 1 September 2010 19:13

Today marks the launch of Edinburgh's Got Talent 2010, with the search for a new star now officially under way.

&#149 Haughey McAuley Academy of Irish Dance

The Evening News' talent competition, in association with Radio Forth and the Assembly Rooms, was held for the first time last year and won by the Penicuik-based Haughey McAuley Academy of Irish Dance, which beat runner-up Jack Robertson by just one point to win 1000 and the chance to perform at the Radio Forth Awards last November.

Around 700 people watched the glittering finale at the Assembly Rooms, after tens of thousands of readers voted for their top 10 acts.

Promotions manager at the News, Deborah Welsh - who will again be joined on the judging panel by the newspaper's arts and entertainment editor Liam Rudden, Forth One presenter Boogie, and Radio Forth events manager Richie Jeffrey - is hoping to attract even more entries this year.

She said: "Ideally I am looking for somebody who is good enough that their career will take off from it and can always go back to saying, 'I won Edinburgh's Got Talent - that's where it all started'.

"There will be good singers and dancers that wouldn't have the nerve to go on national TV to audition on the X-Factor, but who would enter a competition in their local town."

Last year's winners spent the 1000 prize on updating their costumes for the Irish Dancing World Championships in Glasgow, where they picked up a number of medals, and new mirrors for their dance studio.

The group also performed at last year's Radio Forth Awards where they rubbed shoulders with the likes of The Noisettes, Sugababes and Spandau Ballet.

Principal teacher of the group, Michelle Haughey-Edwards, said: "Winning the competition has given them a lot more confidence and has made them more united as a school.

"My advice to anyone entering would be just to believe in themselves."

The entries will be whittled down by public vote to just 10 acts, announced at the end of October, who will perform at the glittering final at the Assembly Rooms on November 4.

Anyone living in Edinburgh and the Lothians who believes they have a talent is urged to enter the competition by sending a two-minute clip of a recent performance. The closing date for entries is October 4.

The winner will once again receive 1000. Visit www.edinburghnews.com/talent