Stars in Their Eyes

Infobox Television
show_name = Stars in Their Eyes


caption = "New "Stars in Their Eyes" Logo"
format = Talent show
camera =
picture_format = 4:3 (1990 - 2000) 16:9 (2001 - 2006)
audio_format =
runtime = 45mins (inc. comms)
creator = Joop van den Ende
developer =
producer = Granada Television/ITV Productions
executive_producer =
presenter = Leslie Crowther (1990 - 1992) Russ Abbot (Elvis Special) Matthew Kelly (1993 - 2004)
Davina McCall (Celebrity Specials) Cat Deeley (2004 - 2006)
narrated = Andrew Brittain
theme_music_composer = Ray Monk
country = UK
language = English
network = ITV
first_aired = 21 July 1990
last_aired = 7 January 2006
num_episodes =
num_series = 16 (Main Series) 3 (Junior Series) 2 (Euro Series)
website = http://www.itv.com/starsintheireyes
imdb_id = 0200379
tv_com_id = 16392

"Stars in Their Eyes" was a British television talent show from 21 July 1990 to 7 January 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars. It is made by Granada Television for ITV, based on Joop van den Ende's Dutch format, "The Soundmixshow".

It remains one of the UK's most successful shows attracting around 13 million viewers for the live grand final at the end of each series. It has one of the most memorable catchphrases in TV history:- 'Tonight (presenter name) I'm going to be...' and was named most popular entertainment show at the National Television Awards in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The most impersonated stars are Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Cher, George Michael and Madonna.

Overview

"Stars in Their Eyes" is a talent show where contestants get the chance to appear and sing, as a famous singer. The show is most importantly a 'soundalike' show, but they are also dressed up to look as close as possible to the singer they are impersonating, often with wigs and heavy makeup.

The contestants appear firstly as themselves, talking briefly to the host about their lives and who they are going to be performing as, finishing with the now famous catchphrase 'Tonight [presenter name] I'm going to be...' The contestants then disappear through the equally famous doors, and reappear as the famous singer they are going to impersonate (The word 'singer' could be used loosely as in 1997 Julian Clary who is not known for his vocal skills was impersonated on the show by Steve Edward)

At the end of the show, the studio audience vote for their favourite, and the winner is announced. The winners from each show in the series return for the series finale, the live grand final.

In the live grand final, the winners of each show return and perform once more. At the end of the performances, the phone lines open and the viewing public get the chance to phone in and vote for their favourite. The winner is announced later the same evening in a separate broadcast.

Over the years the show has seen a lot of changes: changes from the 1990 set; new set in 1998 and the newest set in 2002; the logo has also changed over the years. There have been four hosts: Leslie Crowther, Russ Abbot (one-off emergency host after Leslie's car accident), Matthew Kelly,and Cat Deeley. There have been several spin-off versions of the show as well, including:
* "Stars in Their Eyes Elvis Special"
* "Stars in Their Eyes Kids"
* "Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes"
* "Christmas Stars in Their Eyes"
* "Coronation Street Stars in Their Eyes" and
* "Stars In Euro Eyes".

Previous winners

Original format

2000-2001

Celebrities who performed during episodes during this period. The first one is a complete episode. The second one is a list of celebrities who appeared on the show during the period. There are at least two episodes featured in the list as Tracie Bennett and Claire Sweeney have won their show.

2003

2004

Note: This episode was filmed in 2006 but has not yet aired, although there are many reports that Roxanne Pallett was the winner of this particular show.

Miscellaneous

*The finals during Leslie Crowther's era were pre-recorded.
*Matthew Kelly was inititally hired as caretaker host following Leslie's car accident in 1992, but became permanent when Leslie was unable to return.
*For the first two series (1990-1991) the shows were 30 minutes each. From 1992, the shows were 45 minutes each and also filmed profiles of the star guests were added.
*In the 1995 series, Kev Moore from Christie impersonated the late Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, who just happened to be Leslie Crowther's son-in-law.
*Matthew Kelly made his announcement on GMTV saying that The "Stars in Their Eyes" Live Final 2004 would be his last as he was quitting the show to take up acting full time.
*For the first series grand final of "Stars in Their Eyes" they had a celebrity panel of record producer Pete Waterman, Actress Sally Whittaker better known as Sally Webster in "Coronation Street" and impressionist Joe Longthorne.
*In one episode of "Little Britain", Anne appears on "Stars in Their Eyes", where she impersonates the singer of "My Heart Will Go On", Céline Dion. She manages to sing her catchphrase; "Eh-eh-eh!" to the tune of the song and then knocks over some of the scenery before licking the camera.

Overseas Format

New Zealand: In 2008 a New Zealand version of Stars in Their Eyes began screening on TVNZ, TV ONE The show, hosted by former children's television presenter and game show host Simon Barnett, is filmed in Auckland and produced by 'Imagination' TV. Season One winner was Deryn Trainer singing Billy Joel's Piano Man.Applications are currently open for a second series.

External links

*itv.com|id=starsintheireyes|title="Stars in Their Eyes"
* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Stars_In_Their_Eyes "Stars in Their Eyes"] at UKGameshows.com
* [http://www.goodaboom.com Kev Moore's site]
* [http://www.asaelliott.com Asa Elliott's Site, As appeared as Bobby Vee in 2004]
* [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/410965/1501535 "Stars in their Eyes" TVNZ]