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Soapstar Superstars cleans up



Soapstar Superstars: trounced Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother i

The car-crash TV allure of watching MP George Galloway, exiled entertainer Michael Barrymore and transvestite scouse singer Pete Burns holed up together in the Celebrity Big Brother house proved no match for a bunch of warbling soap stars over the weekend.

ITV1's Soapstar Superstar trounced Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother in the reality TV ratings war on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, presumably to the relief of ITV's schedulers who have tailormade this show to compete directly with Davina McCall and friends.

On Friday night, an average of 6.6 million viewers, 27% of the available audience, watched actors from Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks attempt to convince Cilla Black they have what it takes to be crowned Soapstar Superstar between 8.30pm and 10.30pm.

The audience was 2 million viewers and six share points more than the channel's 2005 slot average. Viewing peaked at 8 million at 10.05pm.

The second instalment of Celebrity Big Brother between 9pm and 10pm on Friday attracted an average audience of 4.3 million, or 17%, according to unofficial overnights.

Soapstar Superstar's nine-day extravaganza continued in the same vein on Saturday night with almost double the audience of Channel 4 - 6.5 million viewers and a 28% share against Celebrity Big Brother's 3.7 million and 16% share.

And the soap singers kept their appeal through to Sunday with 6.5 million tuning in, a 27% share, compared with the 4.2 million who watched Celebrity Big Brother.

However, the return of Martin Shaw's Judge John Deed on Friday night put both Soapstar Superstar and Celebrity Big Brother in the shade.

A new series of the legal drama kicked off on BBC1 between 8.30pm and 10pm with an average of 6.8 million viewers, a 27% share of the audience.

Meanwhile the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup, in what proved to be a vintage weekend for the tournament, scored a ratings victory for the corporation.

Saturday evening's Luton Town v Liverpool clash gave BBC1 the highest audience of the night on Saturday - an 8.4 milllion peak audience - and an average audience of 6.6 million, a 32% share of audience.

Earlier in the day, with a 12.30pm kick off, Hull v Aston Villa's match was watched by 3.2 million, a 33% share of audience.

And Sunday's Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester tie pulled in an average of 5.1 million viewers, 20% of the audience between 6.20pm and 9pm.

guardian

This is the worst show I've seen in ages...And I've seen some rubbish!

Soapstar Superstar is a pretty awful show. I watch it for Ben Shephard really. But I want Richard, Andy, Wendi, or Lee to win. I guess if Roxanne won I wouldn't be that bothered. As long as Lucy doesn't win, I can't stand her!

The show itself is rubbish. Everything is so rushed and nicey-nicey. Even the 'mean' judge is far too nice for my liking.

they have to say some positive things because if they said the truth they wouldn't be able to justify putting such an appaling show on! I'm crap with names but the one off Corrie who dresses like a goth, he's good I like him a lot. Other than that the whole thing is so second rate it has to be seen to be believed!

Yeah i like Richard too HC

Richard wins it!

Cilla loved him, the bookies loved him, you guys really loved him.

And tonight you voted in your thousands to demonstrate quite how much.

When Fern read out that he was the superstar, Richard looked utterly gobsmacked.

But he shouldn't have been. Because for the last eight days he has captivated the British public with both his performances and his persona.

For despite being tipped as the potential champion following his first performance, Richard's feet remained firmly on the ground and he was always quick to praise his fellow competitors. Tonight was no exception.

"It was an absolute honour to be up against Andy," he mused. "He's such a nice guy, a genuinely nice guy."

But enough of that. How did he feel about winning the show?

"It's amazing. It's all been worthwhile, it's just amazing."

And if he was gobsmacked to have walked away with the Soapstar Superstar crown, he was even more shocked when Fern gave him another little surprise.

Richard thought that he was walking away with £50,000 for his charity, The Kirsty Appeal. In fact, we decided to give him £100,000.

Having got himself together, all that was left for our winner to do was what he arguably does best: sing. As the band struck up for one last time, Richard could finally relax and enjoy himself during 'Moondance'.

He did, and we enjoyed watching him do it. itv

SOAP RICHARD TO SING BLUES


BLUE singer ANTONY COSTA has offered to write songs for Coronation Street teenager RICHARD FLEESHMAN after his success on Soapstar Superstar.

Richard, who plays goth Craig Harris, has won an army of fans with his performances on the ITV1 celebrity talent show - and Antony thinks he's going to be the next big thing.

Antony met Richard through his Emmerdale star girlfriend ADELE SILVA, who plays maneater Kelly Windsor. SUNDAYPEOPLE

well I thought he was the best and I'm glad he won so well done Richard . On a side note I can't STAND the character his g/f plays in Emmerdale and if she's anything like that in real life I hope he gets someone better.

richard was great... I'm never going to be able to look at Craig the same again in Corrie, it's a shame he's only 16!

me either Kim i was thinking the same thing last night

I'm half expecting him to burst into Summer of 69 whilst walking the famous cobbles!!