Soapy popstars

The bright stars of British soap are preparing to mutate into wannabe popstars in the latest celebrity reality TV show.

15:04 06 September 2005

The bright stars of British soap are preparing to mutate into wannabe popstars in the latest celebrity reality TV show.

Soapstar Superstar, a new show planned by ITV, will pitch eight stars from the nation's favourite soap operas against one another, to sing for their supper and win over the panel of judges and public.

The show's bosses are said to be keen on signing up the likes of Nikki Sanderson and Jane Danson, who play Candice and Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street, and Celebrity Shark Bait star Amy Nuttall, who played Chloe in Emmerdale.

Sanderson may well be keen on taking up the offer, as she is leaving the Street soon and is said to have her eye on a pop career. The ultimate winner of Soapstar Superstar will win a recording contract.

An insider told The Sun: "This is the ultimate challenge for our stars - and there's sure to be tremendous rivalry between the different soaps.

"Many of the stars have a lot of strings to their bows and the public will be amazed at some of their voices. Some are fantastically talented and can sing a whole different range of styles."

The competition is open to all soap stars, washed up or not, apart from those who have already released a record.