Daz Sampson, the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest participant for the United Kindgom is preparing for his first record release since participating at the competition in Athens. He has signed for the world renowned Ministry of Sound record label and his first release will be under the name 'Star Alliance'.

The song is a remake of Sheila Ferguson's 1979 hit The Runner, featuring Sheila herself! Sheila is a soul legend, former lead singer of the Three Degrees, the most successful female group of the 1970s. Host of her own sitcom, Land of Hope and Gloria in the early 1990s and more recently a star of I'm a celebrity, get me out of here!, Sheila is no stranger to television either. She will also be performing in panto at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage in the United Kingdom from 25th November through to 3rd February.

The song mark's Daz Sampson's first release under his new record label, Ministry of Sound. Should the BBC accept Daz's proposal to enter Making Your Mind Up 2007, his collaboration with former T-Pau lead singer, Carol Decker, would be the second as the record company is behind the project.

Therunner will be released to the United Kingdom clubs next week and is set for general release in the shops and via download in January.

In an esctoday.com exclusive, earlier this week, we were able to play you the new track from hear Star Alliance Feat. Sheila Ferguson, accompanied by pictures trailing Daz and his backing singers from backstage at London's Astoria nightclub before leaving for Athens through to his performance at the Eurovision Song Contest.