Young Star Search

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The Young Star Search is a kids talent radio competition based in Northern Ireland. The competition runs on a number of local radio stations including Castle FM, Bangor FM and Belfast CityBeat.

The contest was developed by Northern Ireland radio presenter Stuart Robinson for his own station Castle FM in 2002. The competition then ran on Bangor FM from 2004. From 2005 the concept also became a stand alone event for many local councils in Northern Ireland including Carrickfergus Borough Council, Newtownabbey Borough Council and North Down Borough Council.

In 2007 the competition went province wide with its move on to Belfast CityBeat radio. The Young Star Search travelled to 12 different areas of Northern Ireland between May - July of 2007 and in November 2007 'The Young Star Christmas Tour' visited several of Northern Ireland's main Christmas Light Switch Ons including Belfast City.

On 31st March 2008, it was announced that the Young Star Search would be returning on Citybeat from May 2008. Stuart Robinson will again present the series for the 7th year.

1 Host
2 Notable Judges
3 Past Winners
4 Other Alumni
5 Young Star Group
6 Trivia
7 Young Star Online

[edit] Host

Stuart Robinson has been the host of Young Star Search since 2002 on all radio stations.

[edit] Notable Judges

YEARS JUDGED	JUDGE	BACKGROUND
2002-2004	Maurice Taggart	Ex Q102 Radio Presenter
2002-2005	Keith Semple	ITV's Popstars
2003-2004	Maurice Jay	U105 presenter
2003-today	Tina Calder	Showbiz Jounalist
2004-today	Robin Elliot	NVTV & Citybeat Radio Presenter
2005-2007	Nigel (Nasty) Hamilton	Newtownabbey Mayor
2007	Shaun Rogerson	X Factor Finalist
2007-today	Gerard McCarthy	Hollyoaks Actor
2007-today	Dana	Eurovison Winner
2007-today	Bel's Boys	CITV

[edit] Past Winners

YEAR	LOCATION	JUNIOR WINNER	SENIOR WINNER
2002 (Summer)	Carrickfergus	Darcy McLean	Natalie Brown
2002 (Christmas)	Carrickfergus	Darcy McLean	N/A
2003 (Summer)	Carrickfergus	Sophie Hollran	Michael Callahan
2003 (Christmas)	Carrickfergus	Cloe Skelton	Casey Wallace
2004	Carrickfergus	Emma McBride	Julie Gower
2004	Bangor	Deven Crossley	Niomi Stewart
2005	Carrickfergus	Gemma Hall	Samantha Gray
2005	Newtownabbey	Kirsty Crawford	Megan McConnell
2005	Bangor	Hayley McCann	Kathryn Rutherford
2006	Carrickfergus	Cherelle Duffrin	Donald Montgomery
2006	Bangor	Nicole McGoogin	Tammy Corbett
2007	Northern Ireland Wide	Rachael Stewart	Laura May Lenehan

[edit] Other Alumni

Stand-in presenters

David Gordon
Natalie Miller
Robin Elliot

Other Judges

Andy Pugh 2002-2006
Fat Tam 2004-2005
Justin Macartney 2002-2003
Mark White 2006
Minty 2007
Justin McGurk 2007
Keri Moore 2007
Seaneen Kane 2007

Runners Up

2002 Joanne Corrigan
2002 Shauna Walker
2002 Angela Kennedy
2003 Nicole Sloan
2003 Laura Gilbert
2003 Lauren Dunahoe
2003 Sam White
2004 Stacey McCalister
2004 Seaneen Kane
2005 Sarah Hutcheson
2005 Becky Steed
2005 & 2006 Julianna Edlin
2006 Hannah Rose Henning
2007 Deboragh Morrison
2007 Eiblin Stewart

[edit] Young Star Group

In 2007 a group was formed from finalists who took part in the Citybeat Young Star Search. The six finalists recorded a version of Happy Xmas (War Is Over) and went on tour to perform the track to 75,000 people at the main Christmas Light Switch On Events across Northern Ireland.

THE GROUP

Rachael Stewart
Jordan Richmond
Jon Gillen
Deboragh Morrison
Zoe Skillen
Rhian Gourley

[edit] Trivia

Darcy McLean is the only person to have won Young Star twice.
Julianna Edlin from Carrickfergus has come closest to winning without actually winning, finishing 3rd in 2004 and 2nd in both 2005 & 2006.
Casey Wallace,Donald Montgomery, Julie Gower, Megan McConnell and Nicole McGoogin had all previously entered Young Star before winning.
Rachael Stewart is the most successful Young Star winner in terms of votes, followed by Sophie Hollran.
Seaneen Kane was previously runner-up of Young Star in 2004 (Bangor) before becoming a judge in 2007.