With a background on The West End stage, and having experienced the pop world first hand, Sinitta is relishing the opportunity to discover the new Sandy and Danny. Adamant that she’s the ‘fairest’ judge on the panel, her main task is keeping the boys in check. Having already charmed David Gest with her sexy outfits, and titling David Ian a ‘Sir’, it’s clear Sinitta is not to be underestimated.

What are you looking for in your ideal Sandy / Danny?
“For Sandy I’m looking for someone who is sweet and luminous with an inner fire. And for Danny they need to be gorgeous, sexy and very cheeky. And obviously they both need to be able to sing, dance and act.”

Which character did you most identify with when you were a teenager?
“I was so in love with all of them. I would have loved Sandy to have been my best friend.
But I think I was a bit more of a Rizzo at school because I was the naughty girl in the
class always clowning around and getting into mischief!

“And I always wanted to be a Pink Lady at school. My mum bought me some turquoise, satin trousers – like the black ones Sandy wore – and I used to scream blue murder when she tried to take them off me.”

What does the Grease movie mean to you?
“Grease was my film, my generation, the first musical movie that I saw. And it was that movie that made me realise I wanted to follow my family into the showbiz world.

“It’s amazing that my step-daughter and God-daughter, although young, are obsessed with the movie as much as I was at their age. It really is a show for all generations. “

What’s your first Grease memory?
“The Summer Lovin’ single was my first memory. I was in the lower year at boarding school and we were allowed to stay up as a special treat to watch Top Of The Pops and see them perform live. We all sang along to every word, in our pyjamas, sounding like screeching cats; and then the 6th Formers sent us to bed!”

In your high school yearbook, what would it read?
“I was the only black girl at school, with big candy floss hair, and I think everyone thought that I would be famous when I grew up because I was always a bit of a clown and entertainer.”

Danny Zuko or Kenickie?
“I actually thought Kenickie was cool when I was younger, and I thought by fancying him rather than Danny it made me cooler! But as I’ve grown up I have to say Danny because my husband is a dead ringer for John Travolta.”

What did you aspire to be when you were a teenager?
“Because of the Grease movie I always wanted to follow my family into showbiz and become an entertainer.”

What’s your favourite scene and song from the movie?
“I love the sad love songs like Oh Sandy and Hopelessly Devoted – the big romantic numbers.
“But it was the Drag Car Race scene that was my favourite.”

Did you ever have a summer holiday romance as a teen?
“No, I never went on holidays. I had a working mum so summer holidays never happened. My only holiday was a break from boarding school!”

Were you cool enough at school to be a member of the Pink Ladies / T-Birds?
“Yes, I was very hip at school; I was in with the right crowd. But I was the ugly one – all the pretty girls were the Sandy look-alikes with blonde ponytails, and I just had a big messy afro. But I got to hang with them because I was the funny one.”

Do you prefer Danny as a T-Bird or transformed into ‘preppy’ Danny?
“T-Bird Danny, definitely. I love all the leather and black T-shirts.”

Do you prefer Sandy before or after her transformation?
“When I was young I loved the goody-girl Sandy, but as I’ve grown older it’s definitely the new-look Sandy. That’s who I aspire to be now! She had a huge influence on my style.”

What role do you think you are going to take on the panel?
“I am the fair one. I have step-children of similar ages to the contestants, so I’m quite sensitive to that age group. And I need to keep all the boys on the panel in check, especially ‘Sir’ David Ian, as I’ve now dubbed him!”

What do you think makes you suited to being a judge on the panel?
“I was in showbiz from a young age; I did my first show at the age of 12 – The Wizz – then went on to have parts in Cats and Mutiny On The Bounty, among others. My career from early teens to mid 20s was based on the West End, so I understand the nervous audition process.

“After the West End I had my pop career and later in life returned to the theatre, so I really understand and appreciate what it takes to work on the stage and how demanding the life can be.

“In between my acting and singing work I’ve also worked closely with Simon Cowell and Universal, both mentoring and discovering acts for them, such as Natasha and Daniel Bedingfield.”

Had you met any of the other judges prior to the auditions?
“I’d never met DG (David Gest) or Brian before, but I have met David Ian once before. I actually auditioned for David for the part of Sandy back in 1993 and I got down to the final two, but obviously never got the part or the chance to be the first black Sandy.

“I think he pretended that I was ‘another’ Sinitta on the first day of filming but I made sure that he knew I was the same one!”

Any advice for the wannabes?
“My best advice to all auditionees, even if you’re not that good or confident, is to realise that this is a great opportunity and experience and, even if you don’t get through, you should be able to take away a lot of lessons from it.”

The dos and don’ts in auditions?
“Do not turn up showing us how scared and petrified you are and make excuses because of illness, etc. If you can’t get through your audition how are we, as judges, ever going to have confidence that you could perform live every night in front of a packed house? You need to fake it to make it.

“Do turn up brimming with confidence and give us your Oscar-winning performance; this is your one and only chance to shine and win us over so give it everything you’ve got. Bounce in and wow us.”

What is your best / worst audition scenario sitting as a judge?
“The worst is when I get a fit of giggles, and it is normally because of something one of the fellow judges, especially David Gest, has said, and not because of the auditionee.

“I have sent Simon Cowell so many text messages over the years giving him a hard time if he is rude or laughs at one of the acts on American Idol or The X Factor, and now I am finding myself doing it. I have to dig my fingernails into my palms to try and stop but once you’ve got a fit of the giggles it is so hard to stop.”

What are your top five tips for making it as Sandy or Danny?
“Don’t worry about what you look like – Sandy or Danny could be black or Asian; we are not necessarily looking for the traditional image.

“Know the words to your song; I cannot stress how important this is. Dress up and make the effort – show us you are serious. And before you come into the audition, warm up properly and get enough sleep the night before.

“Come to the audition with someone honest and supportive, so you either have someone to celebrate with or look after you on the journey home if you don’t make it.”

View the original post Grease Is The Word: Q&A With Sinitta on Unreality TV

Choreographer Gillian Gregory immediately hired her to play Francine in the sequel to The Rocky Horror Show, Shock Treatment, the movie. During the next two years Sinitta, still not yet a teenager, won roles in several off-West End productions.

This led to an underground discovery of the young performer and a buzz began about her in the music, film and theatre industries. She signed her first record deal with Magnate Records and cut two singles Never Too Late and I Could Be. Once her vocal talents were known she began to work extensively with top producers as a backing vocalist. She also recorded commercial jingles with David Dundas and cut records with Marcia Hunt for Steve Roland, at Hansa. Sinitta also did the ghost vocals for Hot Gossip and Yazz (who she discovered) in the mid 80s before her own pop career took off.

Accompanying a friend to an audition for Cats landed Sinitta a role and after nine months in the production at the New London Theatre, the producers transferred her contract to work on their new big hit Little Shop Of Horrors at the Comedy Theatre.

An unforgettable experience was being selected in the final five acts to represent England in the Eurovision song contest in early 1986 and, in the same year she landed the coveted role of Maimiti in David Essex’s stage show, Mutiny, and received great critical acclaim.

Sinitta’s first pop hit, So Macho reached No2 in the charts and remained there for nine months, making it into the Guiness Book Of Records as the biggest selling single of the year! A real surprise for Sinitta and the young Simon Cowell, who was guiding the music career of the young starlet.

In 1987 she teamed up with pop Svengali Pete Waterman, recording a string of hits that spanned 10 years. After leaving Mutiny at the end of 1987 she toured the world and topped the charts in Japan, the US, Australia, all over Europe, and was a BPI nominee for 1987, a Gold Winner at the Tokyo Music Festival, and DMC best pop act award in Europe.

She stopped recording in 1995 and returned to the stage in Michael Bogdonovichs’ Hair at the Young Vic Theatre. In the years that followed Sinitta played Brenda in Smokey Joe’s Café and starred as herself in What A Feelin. More recently she has also worked behind the scenes helping to identify and develop new talent, including Daniel and Natasha Beddingfield, Mylene Klass, Ragiv and Jonas Mirin.

Most recently Sinitta has featured on The X Factor, as Simon Cowell’s Girl Friday, helping him chose and mentor his acts, such as last year’s winner Leona Lewis. And Sinitta was recently seen strutting her stuff on Sky One’s Cirque Du Celebrite.

View the original post Grease: Biography Of Sinitta on Unreality TV

Now I really am furious! Brad and I were invited to the party in London, but I opted out and Brad is going alone. I had no real desire to meet David Gest, Sinitta or Zoe Ball…..but John Travolta? I would have paid money to shake his hand or maybe even dance the Greased Lightnin with him. Gutted!

View the original post John Travolta Tipped For Launch Of Grease Is The Word on Unreality TV

The show will follow a similar format to the BBC show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, and during the course of the show the producers hope to fill the roles of Sandy and Danny Zuko for Grease the stage musical.

Putting his reputation on the line judging the potential hopefuls, as well as producing the eventual winners in the new West End show, is renowned theatre producer David Ian. Joining David on the judging panel is; I’m A Celebrity favourite, multimillionaire American showbiz impresario and producer David Gest, American choreographer Brian Friedman and The X Factor mentor, 80’s pop icon and West End star in her own right Sinitta (Mutiny, Hair, What A Feelin’).

I am really looking forward to Grease coming to our screens. I wonder if the auditions threw up as many freaks as the X Factor manages to attract?

View the original post Grease Is The Word To Air In April! on Unreality TV

Putting his reputation on the line judging the potential hopefuls, as well as producing the eventual winners in the new West End show, is renowned theatre producer David Ian. Joining David on the judging panel is; I’m A Celebrity favourite, multimillionaire American showbiz impresario and producer David Gest, American choreographer Brian Friedman and The X Factor mentor, 80’s pop icon and West End star in her own right Sinitta (Mutiny, Hair, What A Feelin’).

David Ian said of taking part in the series, “I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to be working with ITV on this project looking for a brand new Danny and Sandy for the West End production of Grease. It’s so exciting to be looking for genuine new UK talent to fill the boots of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John and to perform in one of the greatest musicals of all time.”

Presenting the show for ITV1 is presenter and self confessed Grease superfan Zoe Ball and Holly Willoughby will be getting all the backstage gossip and behind the scenes action for ITV2’s spin off show, Greased Lightnin’.

Of presenting the news series Zoe Ball said, “I remember seeing Grease for the first time when I was 7 years old and I loved it. I learnt all the songs off by heart, and I just wanted to be one of the pink ladies at Rydell High, they were so cool! I’ve watched Grease over and over since that special day when I queued for ages outside the cinema, and I am just as hopelessly devoted to it now as I was back then. So you can imagine how delighted I am to be presenting Grease Is The Word – it’s so exciting, I can’t wait to be a part of it!”

Preliminary auditions have been held across the country and thousands of hopefuls have applied in a bid to win one of these infamous roles. Auditionees must prove that not only are their singing, dancing and acting skills up to the job, but that ultimately they can reprise the sizzling chemistry of Grease’s most famous leads John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.

The Sandy and Danny wannabes are set to be put through their paces, all hoping to secure themselves a place at “Bootcamp”. Then over the course of three days the hopefuls will be whittled down to just eight couples who will go forward to the live stages of the show and the public vote. Only one couple will make it through to take to the stage in the West End production.

Co-produced by talkbackTHAMES and Simon Cowell’s production company Syco TV the series will air on ITV1 from April with the access all areas show Greased Lightnin’ airing on ITV2.

The new West End production of Grease will be produced by Paul Nicholas and David Ian and will open in July. Tickets go on sale from the end of March.

View the original post Judges Announced For ITV Grease Is The Word on Unreality TV

The men had to master the swinging trapeze with strength, agility and technical aggression and the ladies, the aerial swing with grace, romance and lovely lines.

Emma B was a pleasure to watch as she, with visual ease, smoothly glided through her aerial swing performance. Very romantic. Her one knee hang off the handsome Russian bearer, Valero’s foot, was particularly impressive.

Jamie awed us with his adventurous reverse roll and knee drop, standing on the bar and dropping to hang by the ankles. A really powerful performance

Not only do the contestants perform on Saturday night but they also have to erect the tent, put out the chairs and prepare everything for the evening show.

Andy stunned us with his most difficult ankle drop, smoothly performed, standing on the bar and dropping to hang by his arms and then neck only. The judges were most impressed with this with Louis saying it was a truly technical performance.

Sophie went through her acts with ease, romance, beautiful lines, interesting manoeuvres to receive a shocking 17 out of 30 due to Anne and Philip’s poor marking. Louis voiced his appreciation and matched it with a good score. Sophie has been at enmity with the judges but should this impact on their scoring? She has been said not have turned up for enough practice but in fairness she has had a kidney infection and full modelling commitments. In spite of this, we thought she put on an outstanding performance.

We did not expect to see Nicola and James as the bottom two contestants as both had earned well deserved high points whereas Ninia and Kenzie had not. Is this system working when top performers are knocked out? Kenzie had to make the final choice as to who was to go and we are now deprived of an outstanding performer. Had James gone, it would have been an equally great loss.

Being half way through the Cirque de Celebrite challenge, the judges and trainers, alike, have expressed expectancy of greater achievements from the contestants. This should be a very exciting event and not to be missed.

This article was written by Evelyn Lewis, our newest contributor at Unreality TV. Welcome aboard Evelyn. We’re thrilled to have you with us!

View the original post CIRQUE DE CELEBRITE: 12th November, 2006 on Unreality TV

What a wonderful burst of colour, excitement, exquisite costumes and raw talent being perfected with courage, tears and drama, as each contestant takes on a circus act of great daring and no safety nets. A buzz from beginning to end with well known celebrities such as Sophie Anderton, Emma B, Grace Adams-short and many more, contesting. The star of the show to date being Grace Adams-Short who has outshone the other contestants by sheer hard work and determination. Her pluck is to be admired as she falls, hurts herself over and over again and gets up to continue on in an effort to perfect her act of the week. In spite of tears and raw pain, she pushes on to become the star of the show, week after week, smiling through it all. The trainers love working with her as she is the first to arrive for practices and the last to leave and very willing to learn.

Each contestant must be congratulated for their courage and endurance as they take on the tasks put to them, with some performing better than others. Unfortunately we still get the contestant who gets unfair favour, due to a pretty face or good body, earning points not deserved but as the public have no say over the judges, who rule supreme, the untouchables, this seems to be becoming more common with the various competitive shows. Some contestants have learned to play up to the judges to scrape together a few extra points, while others rely totally on hard work.

Cirque de Celebite is a very exciting, fast moving show with plenty of colour and variety of acts and contestants working up to a pitch of competitiveness and enthusiasm. Every second is exhilarating and well worth watching. Plenty of glamour with Nicola Wheeler from the soapies, models Emma B and Sophie Anderton (a favourite from Love Island) and Grace Adams-Short of BB7. Young heartthrob, Kenzie had a bad week but a pleasure to watch in previous episodes.

The decision to let a chosen fellow contestant decide which of the two lowest public scoring contestants should leave the show, is a very strange and unfair move on behalf of the organizers, as obviously, the better of the two performers has been voted off each week. Thus our sad loss of the very talented and beautiful Sinita of the X factor and said to be ex girlfriend of Simon Cowell.

Another strange decision was to bring back a competitor who was obviously not qualified for the job and who had been knocked out in previous weeks, to temporarily stand in as judge in the absence of the regular judge. He knew nothing about the circus when he came on the show as a competitor. Did not last long before he was knocked out. Had no knowledge on the acts now been performed and yet was allowed to judge the other contestants. Madness. Not only that but he was the final judge and could sway the outcome of the two previous judge’s points with his own. He was seldom in keeping with the other judges. If he had been put in the middle then the third judge could have brought in a little more of a balance but surely it would have been better to have made one of the trainers a judge instead. Or a true circus performer?

It is with great anticipation that we wait for the next fabulous showing of Cirque de Celebrite.

This article was written by Evelyn Lewis, our newest contributor at Unreality TV. Welcome aboard Evelyn. We’re thrilled to have you with us!

For more Cirque De Celebrite gossip and chat check out our FORUM!

View the original post Cirque de Celebrite on Unreality TV

The third Cirque show saw competition hotting up between the celebrities, all now scarred, battered and bruised from weeks of intense circus skill training. There were 3 new disciplines to be mastered this week, namely the Aerial Hoop (20’ off the ground), the Roller Roller (think balancing on stacked pieces of plastic pipe and planks) and the Bungee (acrobatics in an elasticated harness).

Exhibiting daring and poise on the Aerial Hoop, were a near-naked Emma B (scoring a creditable 21 with the judges despite a rib injury sustained in training), Sophie complaining of a kidney infection and getting a critical panning from the judges (15), Grace (the hardest training celeb according to the coaches) once again proving a favourite with the panel and crowd (25) and Lee ‘The Chimp’ Zammo (16) making up in enthusiasm what he lacked in grace and elegance (this despite the ballet classes he had taken during the week).

Performing balancing feats on the Roller Roller were Jamie, athletic as ever (and scoring 23, his best total yet with the judges), a very handy Andy making the discipline look easy and performing a ‘triple stack’ routine that would normally take 6 months to master (24) and Nicola who held her nerve despite some bad falls in training (23).

Spinning up on the Bungee were a graceful Sinitta (21), Kenzie putting on a blazin’ best performance of the night according to his trainers, including a breathtaking quintuple somersault (23) and Ninia, described by Ring Mistress Ruby as a “giant leopard-skin flying planet� making many in the crowd worried for their health as she bounced haphazardly around the roof of the big top (17).

Once audience votes had been added to the judge’s scores, Sinitta and Nicola were bottom of the bill. The difficult task of choosing who should stay then fell to Andy who picked Nicola for her courage and commitment in mastering the most difficult of the night’s disciplines. Thus a sad Sinitta said goodbye to the Cirque, leaving the remaining 9 celebrities to tackle 3 new circus skills for next week’s show – the Cloud Swing, the Unicycle and the Bolus. What are they? You’ll have to watch on Sky One next Sunday at 7pm to find out.

For more Cirque De Celebrite gossip and chat check out our FORUM!

View the original post Sinitta Leaves Cirque De Celebrite on Unreality TV