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Britain's Got Talent auditions hit Blackpool
HUNDREDS of hopefuls are passing along Blackpool's Golden Mile hoping it is the road to fame and fortune.
But first they must get past TV's 'Mr Nasty' – Simon Cowell.
Throughout this week queues have formed outside The Imperial Hotel with fame seekers attending auditions for Britain's Got Talent.
The hit ITV show, starring music mogul Cowell, has been auditioning contestants and shooting scenes for the show on the Prom.
Yesterday saw contestants strut their stuff in front of the show's producers and also take to the Prom to shoot a group scene.
And The Gazette had its own star contestant – our promotions and travel co-ordinator, Emma Shawcross.
The 29-year-old, from Thornton, took time out from her busy schedule to audition in hope of impressing the judges and perhaps shooting to fame.
She said: "I applied to go on the show online.
"I've been to auditions for X-Factor before, so I thought why not?
"First we were gathered in a room and then went in groups of 10 to sing in front of the producers.
"It was a terrifying experience."
Emma belted out a spellbinding rendition of Avril Levigne's When Your Gone.
"I've liked the song for ages," she explained.
"It was very nerve-racking singing it in front of the cameras, but I've liked the song for a while so I was fairly at ease with it."
Another hopeful was, 12-year-old, Tom McLeod, who took part in the first round of heats of the Gazette's own star search Blackpool's Got Young Talent.
The youngster, from Burwood Drive, who compares himself to Michael Buble or Will Young, said: "I'm a bit nervous, but it's good to be nervous.
"I've got lots of different songs lined up, like You Raise Me Up or The Greatest Love of All.
"I might ask the judges what they want, I've got plenty up my sleeve."
He added there has been a great atmosphere among the contestants.
"I've been getting lots of encouragement," he said.
"Everyone is really friendly and seems to be having a good time."
Auditionees will hear before Christmas if they are through to an audition in front of star judges, Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.
The next stage of the competition will be filmed in Blackpool in January.
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
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