Friday, January 06, 2006
The suds factor
POP! Soapstar Superstar, ITV1, 8.30pm
Is anyone really surprised that it's come to this? Given the British public's love of both televised talent contests and soap operas, not to mention the tendency for former soap actors to try their hands at a pop career, it was only a matter of time before a moment of inspiration caused a TV executive to combine the two, and lo and behold, here we have SOAPSTAR SUPERSTAR, where ten soap stars compete in an X FACTOR style contest to find the best singer, in order to win a cash prize that will go to charity. And, in all honesty, there's probably a whiff of a record contract in the offing if the show's a success, but no one seems to be mentioning that part as things stand right now.
Presumably you'd like to know who's taking part? Right you are, then: CORONATION STREET has the most representatives, with Wendi Peters (Cilla), Andrew Whyment (Kirk), Richard Fleeshman (Craig) and Shobna Gulati (Sunita). Quite how this show managed to get off and running without Nikki Sanderson running onto the set and duct-taping herself to the microphone, we're not quite sure. Batting for EASTENDERS we have a few members of the old school: Michael Greco (Beppe) and Nick Bailey (Dr Trueman). For EMMERDALE, we've got Roxanne Pallett (Jo), Sammy Winward (Katie) and Lucy Pargeter (Chastity), and representing HOLLYOAKS all on his todd is Lee Otway (Bombhead).
Sadly Simon Cowell will not be on the judging panel, but Cilla Black will. Hurrah! We think, anyway. In a merciful departure from THE X FACTOR's voting system, the decision of who stays and who goes will be entirely down to the public vote. The show's being stripped along nine days, but there's no results show, so you won't find out who's eliminated until tomorrow's episode. As if the whole thing couldn't get cheesier, it'll be presented by Fern Britton and Ben Shephard. It sounds car-crash-tastic, and we can't wait. We have no idea who the public will take to, but we wouldn't bet against Richard Fleeshman after his brilliant Will Young impersonation on CELEBRITY STARS IN THEIR EYES a few years back. And no, don't ask us how or why we remember that.
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