Yorkshire’s Greatest Talent competition is heating up

And the Yorkshire Wildlife Park talent competition has the X Factor.

The judging panel tonight, tomorrow and Sunday - March 17, 18 and 19 - will feature Holly Victoria, a previous X Factor contestant, who performed as Holly Johnson.

BUY TICKETS: The live shows start at 7pm tonight and tickets are still available at thehive.yorkshirewildlifepark.com/entertainment/yorkshire-s-greatest-talent.

An international vocalist and singing coach, Holly signed to Sony when she was in her late teens, has sung for royalty and all over the world.

She is joined tonight and on Sunday by Christian Carlisle, a BBC introducing presenter.

Christian has been credited with helping many new artists rise to fame including recently Rotherham chart-toppers The Reytons.

Tonight's other judge is Tom Byatt, owner of Pauline Quirke Academy of performing Arts Doncaster. The performer and entertainer works with children, aged four to 18, in performing arts, social skills and self confidence.

Helping to judge Saturday and Sunday heats is Gary Starr, a show producer, playwright and theatre owner.

Soraya Vivian, a Hedkandi DJ and TV presenter, completes the judging panel on Saturday.

Entry is now closed for the competition which was open to singers, including those with acoustic instruments, aged ten-years-old to 55-plus, not just solo singers, but duos, trios, quartets, larger groups and choirs.

Entrants don’t have to live or work in Yorkshire but, as the competition is taking place in the county, it is called Yorkshire’s Greatest Talent.

The talent competition, which is taking place at the Evolution immersive dining venue at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, is set to showcase emerging singing stars from the region and beyond.

Four winners will each get a special guest support slot, in front of an audience of up to 8,000 people, at the venue’s big name Wild Live Concerts this summer, one featuring The Vamps, on Saturday, August 12 and another with Marry Me chart-topper Olly Murs, on Saturday, August 26.

Winners will also record their own song at Sheffield’s world famous Steelworks Studios.

The semi-finals will take place in May, and the Grand Final is set to take place at the park’s Tsavo Safari Lodge on Saturday, June 3.

John Minion CEO , of YWP, at Branton, near Doncaster, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for local singers to show what they are made of and take the next step on the road to stardom.

“We are excited to be staging the event and are looking forward to giving the talented entrants their shot at stardom.

“So many of today’s high-profile performers began their journey in talent contests so the next star could be out there in Yorkshire just waiting for this moment.“It’s going to be lots of fun and I’m sure we’ll unearth a few diamonds along the way.”