Duncan James (Don’t Stop Believing) interview
Five’s new live entertainment show Don’t Stop Believing kicks off in July, with Blue singer Duncan James 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.
After nine years in Blue, why have you signed up to be on the other end of the fence as a judge?
“This is a different kind of reality TV show, it’s all singing all dancing first of all, and coming out of Legally Blonde which is all singing and all dancing, this really appealed to me as my next career move and I think it’s going to be a good, uplifting, family show, one that my daughter will definitely watch and enjoy. She’ll love it.”
What do you think the groups will have to do to stay in the competition?
“They really need to be pulling it out of the bag each week. It’s going to be a very tough competition so they need to know that there’s no room for errors they have to be on top of their game. Rehearsing is key, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse because we’re going to able to tell the groups who haven’t put the time in, they are going to stand out.”
What are your tips to quell those tell-tale signs of nerves during their performance?
“The pressure is always tough. For me whenever I’ve done a TV show performing myself, nerves do get the better of you and it is hard going out not just in front of a studio audience but in front of a live TV audience, so you kind of just have to mentally prepare yourself for that and not think about it and just perform to one person in the audience - that’s what I always do, I focus on one person.
“Obviously we had the record company to guide us, but in general we had each other, and if you get a little nervous you just look at each other and someone says it’s cool it’s cool. It is a lot easier being in a group, you’ve got each other to fall back on, you’ve got your friends on stage next to you and that really helps, safety in numbers. I much prefer performing as Blue as a group rather than on my own.”
As part of Blue, did you have some pretty nerve-wracking times yourself?
“We did performances around the world. One was at Buckingham Palace performing at the Queen’s Jubilee and we even met her afterwards when she came along and said hello to all us. That was probably the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my career. The nerves and adrenaline were just crazy.
What will you be looking for from the performances?
“They’ve obviously got to have great singing voices, they’ve got to be able to move they’ve got to be able to dance, they’ve got to go out there and shine and separate themselves from the rest. You want to see them having fun and enjoying it. Seeing people having fun, that energy, will resonate with viewers back at home. We’re not here to criticise and put people down, we’re here to support and encourage them. To encourage them to enjoy it and to go out there and give it their all.”
Who are your professional and personal influences and heroes?
“I think working with Stevie Wonder was such a huge thing for us. Not only is he one of the most talented people that I’ve ever met in my whole life but he was such a down to earth, lovely man and very humble and just a joy to be around. I think seeing true stars being that way is lovely to see, especially if you get the chance to work with them. He was a huge influence.
"Kylie Minogue is really lovely and really professional. I went to see her in New York. Every time I’ve met Kylie she’s lovely, professional down to earth - she’s a true star.”
What are your current ambitions?
“I want to do a Hollywood movie one day, I’d love to do a BBC drama and I’d love to get another number one album with Blue in the bag to make it four.”
Don’t Stop Believing airs at 7pm on Sundays from 18th July 2010.
