The mammoth search to find Irelands' representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 begins tonight on RTE One at 18.30 GMT with the first of seventeen weekly programmes in the series of “You're A Star” . Tonight highlights of the first two auditions will be shown. Once again Ray D'Arcy will be back to present the series for the third year running.

This is the third year that RTE has used the format of “You're A Star” to determine their Eurovision Song Contest representative. However there are some small changes to the format.

The first is a new set of judges, they are Dave Fanning, Barbara Galavan and Hazel Kaneswaran. For the first time bands will be included in the format, although they will have to adhere to the contest rules by comprising six or less members. In addition songwriters from all genres and the writing of songs will feature, unlike previous years.

There is also a change in how the finalists are selected. In previous years eight acts were chosen from each audition and put up for a public vote and two were chosen. This made up ten acts, and then the judges were able to pick one act each as a wildcard to make up thirteen acts for the final. It was perceived that many deserving artists did not make it to the final because some of the public voted for artists based on their location, rather than their talent!

This year, during September and October auditions took place over five locations, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, Dublin and Portlaoise. The judges will choose eight acts, but they will not go to a public vote. This will make a total of forty acts that will be forwarded to various workshops to improve their vocal talent, dancing, camera work and style etc.

After these workshops, the judges will choose ten of the acts to go forward directly to the final. Then the public will then get to choose three wildcard acts to join them, making a total of thirteen acts for the final stages. The final stages are due to start in January 2005, with eventually one act being chosen as Irelands' entry.

Ireland will have to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest qualifying round in Kiev on 19th May, 2005.