Anastacia (Don’t Stop Believing) interview

Five’s new live entertainment show Don’t Stop Believing kicks off in July, with American singer Anastacia among the judges.

The show has scoured Britain for existing and first time musical groups created by friends, colleagues, school mates or families, to discover the nation’s greatest musical performance groups. The groups will be choreographed, coached and judged by industry experts with five live elimination shows culminating in a thrilling final.


You first got your lucky break when you took part in MTV talent show The Cut in 1999...

“It was a whirlwind! It was the start of my career so I am deeply grateful for this experience. It was tough being in a competition and there was nothing on TV like it at the time, so it was really new ground.”

Since then talent shows have become very popular on TV. What was it about this show that caught your attention?

“I love the format, a winner each week and then all winners for the final show, it seems to have a focus on the joy of performing, the theatrics and fun! I loved the idea of "choir" type groups, no age limit and the purity of singing with others; I was thrilled to be asked!”

Having sold more than 17 million albums in Europe and Australia alone, what can our hopefuls learn from you?

“Stay true to your sound and vision, trust that to compromise that is to potentially lose your specialness.”

What advice would she give the contestants in order to stand out?

“This idea of choirs and performing singing and dancing groups is new territory so I'm sure the star quality will shine and the coolest part is I will get to see what this amazing "stand out" quality looks like in this new and exciting format!”

What do you feel that you will bring to this line up of judges?

“I'm a singer and I write songs that tell a story so when I perform, I am acting, with a bit of choreography and the singing as my foundation.”


Don’t Stop Believing airs at 7pm on Sundays from 18th July 2010.