Last places booked up for tonight's grand final

TONIGHT twelve finalists will take to the stage at the Regent Theatre knowing a winning performance could make their career.

Whoever is crowned Stoke's Top Talent will win a three-month contract to star in this year's Regent Theatre pantomime Dick Whittington, alongside Jonathan Wilkes, and a £1,000 cash prize from show sponsors The Sentinel.

Since Monday, 50 of the city's best singers, dancers and comedians have graced the stage of the Regent Theatre.

And last night the atmosphere in the auditorium was electric as the contestants sang, danced and laughed in the hope of impressing judges Nikki Wheeler, Kevin Wood, Martin Tideswell, Nick Hancock and Amy Diamond to win their place in tonight's final.

First up was Maddogs, the award-winning martial arts demonstration squad from Hanley who brought so much energy to the stage that even veteran Kevin Wood announced: "I'm not supposed to like this."

But while high energy started the show, 13-year-old soprano Jodie Bailey brought the audience and judges to their feet when she slowed the pace down with a mature performance of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You.

The only one of his kind on the night, 16-year-old comedian Dave Pengelly was the third act of the night and his confident style, for what Nick Hancock classed as a "tough gig", really got the audience going.

Multi-talented musician Megan Hancock opted to sing Alicia Keys' difficult No One, with judge Nikki Wheeler noting the 10-year-old Nikki was a youngster with plenty of potential.

Michael Tremble's controlled performance of Leona Lewis's Run was enough to see him through to tonight's final.

But there was tough competition from rap artist Blake, who, along with dancers from Studio One, energised the audience with his clear-cut style.

Singer April Lancaster followed, and while the 13-year-old has been performing for less than two years, her potential during the evening's second performance of I Will Always Love You was clear.

Booking the last direct spot in tonight's final were street dancing trio Hypnotic. The 10-year-old girls from Bucknall chose a great selection of up-beat songs to dance their way to the final. Their talent was so impressive that choreographer Nikki Wheeler was quick to label them "the best little dancers I've ever seen."

With just two acts remaining, smooth singer Che McDonald got the audience well and truly in the mood for the weekend with his rendition of Lionel Richie's All Night Long.

For many Claire Malpass' haunting version of Pie Jesu should have seen her sail through to the final, but the 15-year-old soprano from Meir Park, who filled the final slot in last night's heat, just missed out. Although disappointing, she can take home Nick Hancock's comment that "it was haunting, it was beautiful and I was really moved".

But the judges didn't get the final say. Lindsay Kearns, who sang and danced on Tuesday, won The Sentinel's online vote while young dancers Martyn Baxter and Cole Dunn – known as Martyn and Cole – won over the audience of The Regent to complete tonight's line-up.