Olly Murs brings Stars In Their Eyes back to the screens

Olly Murs will be stepping up to the challenge and embarking on his solo presenting career with this new TV show that many are anxiously awaiting to hit our screens. The new reboot of the classic TV show, 'Stars in Their Eyes' will be renamed 'Starstruck' and be given a complete makeover - along with the contestants, of course.

According to metro.co.uk, a thrilled Olly said: ‘I’m really excited to be hosting a big Saturday Night show like Starstruck. It ticks all the boxes; it’s about feel good, family fun which is something we all need right now.'

The British public has been awaiting the new reboot of the 90s show ‘Stars in their Eyes’. It was meant to have been coming to ITV later on this year, but it is now looking like it could possibly be pushed back until 2022. The filming, and therefore the release, was delayed due to the pandemic but everyone will be delighted to know that the auditions have already begun and filming was due to have started in the summer.

Stars in their eyes - the show where guests are radically transformed into their chosen singer. Not only is the make-up and costume bang on point, but the contestants often stun audiences with the likeness in voice and vocal tone also. Who can forget the show’s catchphrase, “Tonight, Matthew, I’m going to be...”. Reminiscing of Saturday night TV dinners...

Interestingly, the name of the show is not the only thing that has changed. Producers have put a surprising twist on the competition. The contestants will perform in groups instead of solo acts, like the previous series. A show insider said: “Bosses have decided to get the contestants up on stage as a trio. Each trio will be emulating one star. Along with being dressed as them, they will have been given training by creative teams and voice coaches to make sure they’re the best they can be.”

The source continues, “It is then Sheridan and Adam’s decision as to who will go through to the final. Contestants who make it that far will compete again as solo acts in a bid to win a five-figure cash prize... It’s a really fun twist and should make for entertaining viewing.” But who are the stars confirmed to judge the contestants?

Sheridan Smith and Adam Lambert are the confirmed judges for this exciting competition and people close to the stars and the production of the show have commented positively on the two judging side-by-side, “Sheridan is the perfect fit for the show as one of the judges. Her job will be to critique the acts and then give them advice after they have performed... Adam is fun, lively and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He seems a great fit alongside Sheridan and bosses are hopeful they’ll make a great on-screen duo.”

Sheridan Smith, known for her musical theatre roles and iconic characters in “Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crips” and “Gavin and Stacey”, is marching into 2021 with a bang. She had only welcomed her baby boy last year while in lockdown, filmed a documentary about her struggles with mental health and wellness whilst being a mum, hosted a magical musical evening virtual event and now has a number of projects lined up, including, of course, “Starstruck”.

Also, later on this year, Sheridan will star in the new thriller/drama No Return, expecting to be an incredible return to the ITV drama screen for Sheridan. No Return is about a family who venture on a wonderful trip to Turkey that turns ugly when their son is accused of a terrible crime at a beach party. Gripping and definitely be a one-to-watch! She will also be showing off her vocal talents as she voices a number of documentaries, including a discussion on homeless children.

After becoming runner-up and shooting to fame on “American Idol” in 2009, Adam Lambert is best known for joining the iconic rock group, Queen, as the lead vocalist since 2011. He has sold over 3 million albums and 5 million singles worldwide but the 39 year old singer is very much looking forward to joining the panel for the Starstruck competition and help some “Wannabe singers”.

A TV insider explained in December: "Adam was delighted to be asked to join 'Starstruck' and he snapped up the offer. As part of Queen his job is not to replace Freddie [Mercury] but to emulate his brilliance on stage, which he has done to huge success. And now he’ll be helping wannabe singers to do the same with their idols."

Rumours were circling about who would be the third and final judge of the series. For a long while the bosses were on the hunt for the next star to join and judge the show and they had set their sights on Little Mix singer, Jade Thirlwall, but nothing was confirmed.

It seems to have been confirmed that the third judge on the show will actually be singer and musical theatre star, Beverly Knight, which would be a huge signing for Starstruck. A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "There were a number of big music names on ITV’s wish list, including Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, but after approaching Beverley they snapped her up after seeing her enthusiasm for the concept. She is not only a big-name singer but she’s a musical performer and has been in a number of big West End shows including 'The Bodyguard', 'Cats' and 'Memphis'. Her experience makes her ideal for judging members of the public who are transforming into their favourite stars."

The initial show ran for a whopping 16 years, premiering in July 1990 and running to 2006. Always for ITV, it was originally presented by Leslie Crowther, but everyone knows and remembers the show being presented by Matthew Kelly, who took over the show from 1993.

After gaining fame in Stars In Their Eyes, Matthew took to the stage and did a mighty good job, stunning critics and audiences with his performances, most notably in John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ for which he won an Olivier award for his role, Lennie. More recently, he was seen in Alan Bennett’s play, “The Habit of Art” and has admitted he won’t return to the screen again.

Matthew Kelly told The Mirror: "My time with that [television] has gone. Of course... They've run all the Stars In [Their] Eyes on Challenge and Dave. They ran it dry, so the viewers know who the contestants are going to be now. It is like 'We know who you were going to be – and you weren't any good."

Kelly was absent from the show for a little while during a very worrying time for the presenter/actor. He was arrested over allegations of child sex abuse in January 2003. Thankfully, all charges were dropped and he was able to return to the show. During his time away, Davina McCall temporarily hosted three Stars in Their Eyes celebrity specials.

Matthew Kelly’s Stars in Their Eyes reign came to an end finally in April 2004 and Cat Deeley replaced him for another few years before the show also met its end in 2006. She looks so young and fresh-faced in her appearance - it was many years ago, after all - but the talented presenter is still every inch glamorous.

Harry Hill hosed the six-part revival in 2015. Unfortunately, it only lasted for a month as it received low ratings and poor reviews. Perhaps it was the fact that The Voice UK took over the viewers’ interests and the 90s show didn’t offer any big prize like the other talent shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and The X factor.

Stars in Their Eyes is still one of Britain's most successful shows of all time, attracting on average 13 million viewers for the live grand final at the end of each series. The show won the prestigious Most Popular Entertainment Programme at the National Television Awards in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000, whilst being nominated for many other years.

The show is, quite simply, iconic and certainly a large proportion of the British public looked forward to the next instalment every week. Watching the iconic sliding doors and dry ice effects on a Saturday night became part of 90s culture and tradition. There have been many spin offs including a junior version, celebrity specials and even an ‘Elvis Special’ in 1993 which saw all contestants impersonating the King of Rock n Roll. If you haven’t seen the Elvis special, it makes for some brilliant viewing!

Stars in Their Eyes saw some of the best transformations in television history. A lot of people who grew up with the show remembers asking their parents, “But… How did she get changed so fast?”. We take a look at our top five impersonations from the show.

In episode 1 of the 11th series, Flirtatious Londoner Liz Lang transformed into Annie Lennox. She had been followed around previously thinking that she was Annie Lennox. In fact the Eurythmics drummer even mistook her for the star in a bar and when you see her transformed, you will also think you must be looking at Ms Lennox herself.

In 2000, Glaswegian Gary Mullen warped into the wonderful Freddie Mercury. His unassuming look, life and job made him an unlikely Mercury impersonator, but his version of A Kind Of Magic was simply brilliant and it is hard to believe he wasn’t miming to Freddie Mercury’s voice… They even made him a set of Freddie Mercury’s teeth, but he was unable to speak, let alone sing, in the implant so didn’t use them in his performance.

Perhaps many had already seen a slight resemblance between Brian Blessed and tenor, Pavarotti. As Blessed said before he magically transformed into Pavarotti, there is indeed no end to his talents and the musical performance is just as life-like.

Harry Hill became Morrisey and performed This Charming Man in a Stars in Their Eyes celebrity special. Morissey has a very unusual voice and he did a good job in likening his voice to the star. But the high point for Harry Hill? With anything possible on the show, he was made up that he would finally have hair again.

At 24 years old, Ian Moor, a science technician from Yorkshire appeared in the 1999 series as his hero. Arguably one of the best Stars in Their Eyes moments, his voice was spot on, a dead ringer for the star and, of course, Ian went on to win the series but a landslide. Chris de Burgh had even called Ian after the show to speak with him, “I think he was reasonably impressed with me, otherwise he wouldn't have phoned."