UK NEWS

RUSSELL BACK ON SONG WITH TV CHOIR CONTEST

Russell Watson: Good show

Saturday May 17,2008

By Paul Broster

OPERA star Russell Watson last night revealed that he is to make his TV comeback following a brain operation.

The tenor will be one of the judges on the BBC1 show Last Choir Standing, which begins next month.

Russell, 41, will be joined on the judging panel by actress and singer Sharon D Clarke and choral conductor Suzi Digby.

It will be his first prime time screen appearance since he had a brain tumour removed for the second time last October. A scan had revealed that a benign tumour removed in 2006 had re-grown.

Russell said yesterday: “It’s absolutely terrific to be back. I am sure the show will be a real success and I am looking forward to getting back into things.”

The judges will have to decide which 15 of the 60 choirs at the auditions will go through to the studio heats.

It’s absolutely terrific to be back

Russell Watson

These will be whittled down until six choirs make it through to the live Saturday shows, where the judges and the public will vote each week for the one they like best until the winner is decided.

The programme was devised by the same team that brought Strictly Come Dancing, I’d Do Anything and Any Dream Will Do to the screen. Its hosts will be Nick Knowles and Myleene Klass.

Myleene said: “We’re going to be seeing a wide range of choirs with different styles and personalities. There will be something to suit everyone’s taste.”