One of the panelists on Ireland's “You're A Star” selection programme, Hazel Kaneswaren has claimed that the most talented singers on the RTE show have already been voted off. There has also been changes now to the selection of the song for Ireland, and the original planned final for March 17th has been cancelled.
Hazel Kaneswaren, who is one of the three judges on the show, admitted she is stunned by the results of the audience voting.
“I think we did our job and put forward twelve good acts, but the public has been voting out the really good ones” she complained. “I'm not saying that the last five acts are crap, but there are acts that should have gone in the first couple of weeks and haven't. It's all down to campaigning. If you have more 9 and 10 year olds from your local national school voting for you, than the other person, then you win. It's all a bit crazy”.
However Hazel believes finalists Peter Fagan, and the brother and sister act, Donna and Joseph McCaul would be deserved winners of the show. “Peter is definitely a real professional performer and would be great for Eurovision…but I wonder if he will get the votes in the end” she said. “We've sent solo male singers, Mickey Harte and Chris Doran over the last two years, and, maybe the public think it is time for a change. Donna and Joseph aren't anywhere as experienced, but they have a feel good factor every time they perform” she added.
In a separate development, it has been announced that the final planned for March 17th, where the winner of “You're A Star” would perform a number of songs of various styles has been cancelled. Instead there will be a return to the format used in the last two years, where singers will be paired with their Eurovision song. It is not known at this stage, how many potential Eurovision songs will have a public performance. In 2003 four songs were showcased, but in 2004 there were only three showcased. In the past, there have been only two acts to feature in the final weekend, however if only one act is eliminated in the remaining two Sunday night shows, then this would leave three acts for the final of “You're A Star over the weekend of 5th and 6th March. We will just have to wait and see what further developments take place.
Whoever is chosen will represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest semifinal on 19th May.
