EXCITEMENT was in the air at this year’s launch of Dorset’s Got Talent boasting a new format with more fun than ever before.

Hot on the heels of last year’s smash charity event, the competition is in need of sensational singers, cheerful comedians, outrageous acrobats, cute animal acts, ferocious fire eaters and magicians with pizzazz.

The Dorset Echo-backed event will again be raising money for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, which provides specialist palliative care and support in Dorset and has a hospice in Dorchester.

Event organiser, Matt Smith said: “We’ve already had singers, dancers and gymnastic groups sign up, and excitement for the event is definitely growing now we get closer to the auditions.

“This is the second year of the competition and we’re hoping for the same variety of acts and the same incredible standard of contestants.

“But the best bit of this competition is that it is only open to Dorset residents and you can enter with any act, it doesn’t just have to be singers or dancers; we want to see it all.”

There’s £500 cash prize up for grabs for the best act as well as a family holiday in Burton Bradstock and a guaranteed performance at the Dorset 2015 Festival to around 5,000 people.

Last year the judges saw a huge variety of acts of all different ages. The winner was 13-year-old singer Annabel Davies who wowed the judges and audiences with her version of Titanium.

Matt added: “Last year’s competition was incredible and Annabel has already gone so far since the competition. It’s brilliant that this competition helps people get into the relevant industry.

“All the proceeds from this event will go towards funding the care, love and support that Weldmar provide to patients and their loved ones across Dorset.

“Money will be raised in various ways throughout the competition including audience ticket sales, entrance fees of those auditioning and the all-important voting element.

“Last year, more than £5,000 was raised for Weldmar and we hope that we can top that this year.”

Auditions can be booked online and will take place in February from 7 to 8 and 21 to 22.

The competition still has plenty of space left for the weekend of February 7, on the Saturday especially.

Then there will be two live semi-finals and a grand final where the audience get to vote for their favourite act.

There will also be a panel of judges throughout the competition with their very own buzzers.

To sign up visit www.weld-hospice.org.uk/talent or call 01305 261800.