Hana’s jumping for Joy after winning Fylde’s Got Talent

Two years ago, Hannah Hocking entered the competition and missed out on top spot – this time around, under her new stage name, she again reached the final at Lowther Pavilion and emerged triumphant from a line-up of 12 acts.

The 23-year-old from Lytham captivated the judges and the audience with her versions of Billie Holiday’s God Bless The Child and Whitney Houston’s Run To You and her prize will see her feature on the same bill as dance music star Rita at the Proms on Sunday, August 4.

“The atmosphere at the final was incredible and I am so grateful that people believe in me and have given me this amazing opportunity,” said Hana, whose passion for singing first emerged when she was a pupil at Hall Park Primary School.

She later attended Arnold School, Blackpool and among family and friends supporting her at the Sunday’s final were her parents Alison and Phil.

As well as Houston and Holiday, whose songs she performed at the final, Hana’s musical influences include Beyonce, Rihanna, Jessie J, Mariah Carey, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Michael Jackson, Judy Garland and she also writes her own songs,

Her first Hana Joy music video, entitled ‘Link’, is due out on YouTube on May 5.

Second place in the Fylde’s Got Talent final went to Blackpool-based vocalist Lucy Whigham, who accompanied herself on guitar, while third were Jekyll, a three-piece teenage band from Cleveleys.

Others taking part in the contest included members of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Youth Theatre from St Annes; Jess Roberts, a 19-year-old singer from Warton; Tara King, a 16-year-old singer from Lytham; Jade Leigh, a 16-year-old singer from St Annes; Gabrielle and Patch, a 19-year-old singer and 21-year-old musician from St Annes; Lucy Shackleton, a 15-year-old singer from Lytham and Myth of Unity, a rapper aged 22, singer, 27 and DJ, 26 from Lytham.

The evening was compered by popular vocalist Peter Anthony, while judges were comedians Bobby Ball and Johnnie Casson, entertainer Stephen Bayliss and Alan Johnson, managing director of sponsors Progress Housing, which provided £1,000 prize money shared between the top three acts.

Lytham Proms promoters Cuffe and Taylor Management organised the talent show, which attracted a total of 40 entrants, and proceeds from the competition, still being finalised as The Express went to press, will be donated to the RNLI.

Susan Burns of Cuffe and Taylor said: “I want to thank you to all our staff, volunteers, sponsors, judges and finalists. The evening had a fabulous community spirit about it, and what a great way to showcase the talent that the Fylde coast has to offer. Congratulations to everyone who entered and got through to the finals.

“We now have our opening act for the Rita Ora night of Lytham and hopefully we have also raised a decent amount of money for RNLI along the way.”