THE running order for the heats of this year's Stoke's Top Talent variety contest has thrown up some mouth-watering clashes.

The 50 acts were today being informed of which night they will perform as ticket sales started to soar.

In this year's heats, mother and daughter singers, Lorraine and Lauren Taylor, of Ball Green, have been separated.

Lauren, aged 12, goes up against one of last year's final 50, 13-year-old singer Jack Eagles, of Chesterton, in the first heat on Monday, September 7.

Mum Lorraine appears three days later in heat four on September 10, and faces stiff opposition from two of last year's finalists – opera singer Joy Sidley-Brooks and self-taught dance outfit Two Fresh Crew, AKA Andrew and Aaron Corden.

Joy, aged 43, of Church Lawton, is thrilled to have made it through to the heats once more.

She said: "It is a wonderful competition because it brings everyone together. I thought the standard at the auditions was better than last year and it is going to be a tremendous week."

In heat two, on September 8, dance acts The Baderinas and Mini Movers, of Etruria, go head-to-head and find themselves up against two contestants who made the final 50 last year – singers Norman Tudor, aged 70, of Cheadle, and 15-year-old Jade Duggan, of Abbey Hulton.

Heat three on September 9 pits last year's runner-up, 13-year-old Sam Bloor, of Chesterton, against comedy act Martyn and Cole, who also made it through to the finals in 2008.

The fifth heat, on September 11, sees Hanley-based martial arts dance group Mad Dogs take on rapper Blake Greenwell, of Tunstall, and comedian Dave Pengelly, aged 15, of Meir.

Laura Bell, one of the event organisers with the Ambassador Theatre Group, said: "We had sold more than 250 tickets for the final – even before the running order was released.

"Interest in this year's competition is even greater and we have a really strong final 50."

Judges for this year's heats and final, to be compered by Jonathan Wilkes, include panto producer Kevin Wood, choreographer Nikki Wheeler, entertainer Pete Conway, Sentinel Assistant Editor Martin Tideswell and a host of surprise celebrities.

Martin said: "There is no doubt in my mind, having sat through all the auditions and callbacks, that the competition is of a higher calibre this time around.

"We've got a number of acts returning for a second crack at the top prize, but more than 30 of the final 50 acts are new for 2009 and the judges really do have their work cut out."

The winner or winners of Stoke's Top Talent 2009 will receive a three-month professional contract to appear alongside home-grown star Jonathan Wilkes in this year's Regent pantomime, Dick Whittington.

The winning act will also receive £1,000 from show sponsor The Sentinel and appear as a guest performer at this year's Our Heroes celebrity awards night at the Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moathouse Hotel, Festival Park, on September 22.

The live heats for Stoke's Top talent, during which 10 acts will perform each night, will take place from Monday, September 7, until Friday, September 11, with the grand final on Saturday, September 12. There will be 12 finalists, including one voted through by Sentinel readers on the internet, and the other chosen by audience votes.

Tickets, priced at £5 for heats and £10 for the final, can be purchased by calling the box office on 0870 060 6649.