You're A Star

infobox Television
show_name = You're A Star


rating = GA
format = Interactive music talent show
runtime = Varies
first_aired = 3 November 2002
last_aired = present
executive_producer = Larry Bass
sponsor = Whirlpool
presenter = Brian Ormond
(Series 6–)
Keith Duffy
(Series 5 Live show)

Derek Mooney
(Series 4 Live show)

Síle Seoige
(Series 4 Auditions)

Ray D'Arcy
(Series 1-3)
country = IRL
filmed = The Helix, Dublin
network = RTÉ ONE
website = http://www.rte.ie/tv/star/
seasons = 6
language = English
num_series = 6

"You're A Star" is a singing contest in Ireland, created by Screentime ShinAwiL and Radio Telefís Éireann. It is shown weekly on RTÉ One over the winter months of each year. The show is broadcast live from The Helix theatre in Dublin City University.

The show was originally designed to select the Irish Eurovision Song Contest entrant, but this idea was abandoned in September 2005. Title is a pun on "Euro Star".

Judges

Current:
* Brendan O'Connor (Series 4 - present)
* Michelle Heaton (Series 6 - present)
* Keith Duffy (Series 6 - present)Former:
* Linda Martin (Series 1, 2, 4 and 5)
* Thomas Black (Series 4 and 5)
* Barbara Galvin (Series 3)
* Dave Fanning (Series 3)
* Hazel Kaneswaran (Series 3)
* Louis Walsh (Series 2)
* Phil Coulter (Series 1 and 2)
* Kerry Katona (Series 1) - (left mid-way through series 1 - maternity leave)
* Darren Smith (Series 1)

*In series one (2002-2003), Linda Martin stood in for Kerry Katona mid way through the series.
*In series two (2003-2004), Linda Martin replaced Kerry Katona and Louis Walsh (judge on UK "The X Factor") replaced Darren Smith.
*In series three (2004-2005), owing to the poor result at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 there was a public outcry and all judges were replaced by Dave Fanning (DJ RTÉ 2fm), Hazel Kaneswaran (famed from UK "" in 2002), and Barbara Galvin.
*In series four (2005-2006), owing to the popularity of judges on Charity You're A Star in 2005, Linda Martin was brought back and Brendan O'Connor (Journalist) and Thomas Black (from record label Much Music) were introduced.
*In series six (2007-2008), Michelle Heaton (Liberty X) replaced Linda Martin, and Keith Duffy (Boyzone) replaced Thomas Black.

2007 - 2008 : Series 6

On 23 November 2007, You're A Star returned for a sixth series. This year the prize is €10,000 worth of music equipment plus €50,000 in cash. The final 15 were annonced on 13 January 2008. They are: Black Daisy, Catherine Harding, Conan Lyndsay, Deirdre Archbold, Fauve Chapman, Leann Constant, Leanne Moore, Mairead O'Dowd, Mike McNamara, Pat Fitzgibbon, Peter Karpenia, Robyn Kavanagh, Rosie Howick, Sacha Murphy andSharon Condon.

On the 20 January, eight of the finalists played live in a smaller hall in the helix. They were Leanne Constant, Pat Fitzgibbon, Mairead O'Dowd, Robyn Kavanagh, Mike McNamara, Catherine Harding, Rosie Howick and Fauve Chapman. Out of these performers, two would be eliminated from the competition. The one with the lowest votes would be kicked out straight away, while the next lowest two would have to perform in a sing off, with the judges having the deciding vote. The results of which are below.

On the 9 march four contestants were left including - Deirdre Archbold, Sharon Condon, Robyn Kavanagh and Leanne Moore.

[http://www.rte.ie/tv/star05/ Official Site]

2004 - 2005 : Series 3

The format of the show was changed for the 2005 season, to try to ensure that Ireland chose an act with more appeal across Europe. The show was no longer limited to solo singer-performers; bands under the size of 6 people could now enter. The final was held on 6 March 2005. Donna and Joseph McCaul, a brother-and-sister act from Westmeath won the contest; Jade, a band from Wexford, finished second; the Henry Girls finished third; Ian Barrett, a (then 16 year old) soloist from Wicklow finished 4th, with a version of We Didn't Start the Fire

In the semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest 2005, Donna and Joe sang "Love?"
(pronounced "love question mark"), written by Karl Broderick. The act failed to qualify for the final.
They also suffered the embarrassment of becoming the first 'You're a star' winner not to reach the No.1 position in Ireland, beaten by Akon's 'Lonely'. Their last song, released in June 2006, peaked at No.10. They also appeared on 'The Podge and Rodge' show, only for the hosts to poke fun at their attempt in the Eurovision. A clip was showed of them performing, when Rodge afterwards asked 'I wonder why they didn't win?!', and subsequently laughed hysterically. Donna McCaul also recently came out as a lesbian.

[http://www.esctoday.com/specials/read/4429 More information]

2003 - 2004 : Series 2

You're A Star returned for a 2003/2004 season. The judges of the show differed from season one. Chris Doran from Waterford won the competition. In the final of Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Chris Doran finished in 22nd position with seven points awarded by the United Kingdom. As a result, Ireland did not qualify automatically for the 2005 Eurovision final. The song reached No.1 on the Irish charts, but Chris was, however, unable to sustain a successful music career in Ireland. His most recent song failing to crack the top twenty.

2002 - 2003 : Series 1

The 2002/2003 series was the inaugural contest. Radio Telefís Éireann, being the Irish member of the European Broadcasting Union decided that the winner of You're A Star would go on to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest for the foreseeable proceeding years. The show was hosted by Ray D'Arcy. The Talent spotter, Phil Coulter and Kerry Katona served as judges. In the final, the public voted Mickey Joe Harte, a musician from Donegal, winner of the contest. He entered the 2003 contest with the song "We've Got the World Tonight" where he finished in eleventh position. This was one of the poorest results achieved by Ireland, the most successful country in the song contest having won the contest seven times. The song reaches No.1 on the Irish music charts, where it remained for five weeks and was the best selling song of 2003. However, Mickey Harte's most recent album only peaked at No.53.

Charity You're A Star

In the Summer of 2005 eight Irish celebrities enrolled in a "You're A Star Style" competition. However their objective was not to become an international singing sensation, but raise money for a charity of their choice.

RTÉ and the producers decided to run a second season in 2006 where 10 celebrities went face-to-face for their noble cause.

ee also

*X Factor
*American Idol
*Australian Idol

External links

* [http://www.solo.ie/linda "Petition to get Linda back on Your A Star]
* [http://www.rte.ie/star You're a star official website]
* [http://www.7digital.com/stores/default.aspx?shop=635 You're a star official download site]
* [http://www.scubadice.com Scuba Dice Website]
* [http://www.shinawil.ie The Production Co's website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/pjoshea PJ O'Shea's website]
* [http://www.luciaevans.com Lucia's website]
* [http://www.xerosun.com Xerosun's website]