HOPEFUL singers from Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland have already signed up for the 2011 Star Sensations singing competition.

Organisers are expanding next year’s competition to include auditions in London and Milton Keynes as well as the usual locations of Weymouth, Bournemouth and Southampton.

Competition organiser Helena Mace said the 2011 contest should be ‘bigger and better’ than previous years, with prizes including photo shoots and recording sessions for the overall winner.

Miss Mace, who works for Bournemouth-based competition organisers CFK Promotions, said: “We’ve already had more than 300 people applying to take part in the 2011 competition, which is great considering we haven’t even done any proper advertising for it yet.

“More than half of those entrants are from the Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester areas and in Weymouth particularly we always do really well for people signing up.

“We will be starting auditions in March. Entrants will not be singing a capella next year and will be performing with backing tracks.

“In 2010 we had about 500 people taking part in the competition.

“For 2011 we’re on track to have at least 1,000, especially considering that we’ve already got more than 300 entrants for next year’s contest. It should be even bigger than before.

“We’re also looking to get radio stations on board for the 2011 competition and to offer more industry style support.

“We will be organising photo shoots and recording studio sessions for the winner as well as prize money.

“This competition is really making a name for itself and that’s getting out quite far afield.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback, even from those who haven’t won in previous years.

“They said that they just enjoyed taking part and have put their names down to take part again.

“We’re also trying to get professional singers in as special guests to help support the finalists.”

Previous Star Sensations entrants have now started to find fame after taking part in the competition.

The winner of the 2009 Star Sensations competition, Tom Andrews, is a success in the US after being signed to chat show host Ellen DeGeneres’ record label eleveneleven.

Tom, who auditioned for Star Sensations in Weymouth, was doing his GCSEs when he entered the competition and went on to win the competition finale in Bournemouth.

The former Exeter schoolboy was spotted by Ellen DeGeneres after she saw a video of him singing online.

Charley Macauley, who came second to Tom in the 2009 competition, has performed at the Glastonbury music festival, supported Simply Red in concert and Will Young at a music festival on the Isle of Wight.

Anyone wishing to enter the Dorset Echo backed 2011 singing competition should visit www.starsensations.co.uk