Stars in Their Eyes

Stars in Their Eyes is a British television talent series, based on Joop van den Ende's Dutch format Soundmixshow. It featured a singing contest in which members of the public impersonate showbiz stars.

This article is about the ITV television show. For the New Zealand version, see Stars in Their Eyes (New Zealand TV series). For the Just Jack song, see Starz in Their Eyes.

Stars in Their Eyes
GenreTalent show
Created byJoop van den Ende
Henny Huisman
Based onSoundmixshow
Presented byLeslie Crowther (1990–1992)
Russ Abbot (1993 Elvis special)
Matthew Kelly (1993–2004)
Davina McCall (2003 specials)
Cat Deeley (2003–2006)
Harry Hill (2015)
Voices ofAndrew Brittain
Peter Dickson
Sally Lindsay
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series17 (main series)
4 (kids series)
No. of episodes172 (main series)
33 (kids series) (list of episodes)
Production
Production location(s)Granada Studios (1990–2006)
Elstree Studios (2015)
Running time30 minutes (1990–93)
45 minutes (1994–2006)
65 minutes (2015)
Production company(s)Granada in association with J. E. Entertainment and Action Time (1990–2006)
Initial (2015)
DistributorITV Studios
Endemol UK
Release
Original networkITV
Picture format4:3 (1990–2000)
16:9 (2001–06, 2015)
Original release21 July 1990 (1990-07-21) –
14 February 2015 (2015-02-14)
Chronology
Related showsStars in Their Eyes: Kids
External links
Official website
Production website

The show premiered on 21 July 1990 and initially ran until 23 December 2006. It was produced by Granada for ITV and originally presented by Leslie Crowther. Matthew Kelly took over in May 1993, before he was replaced by Cat Deeley in April 2004. An Elvis Presley special hosted by Russ Abbot aired in January 1993, as well as 2003 specials hosted by Davina McCall. A number of celebrity specials and a children's spin-off series were also aired during the original run.

A six-part revival hosted by Harry Hill aired from 10 January 2015 to 14 February 2015, but it was later axed by ITV due to low ratings and poor reviews.[1]

History

A non-televised pilot was filmed in 1989 hosted by Chris Tarrant.[2] However in February 1990, Leslie Crowther was chosen as the host of the show which began airing on 21 July 1990. Crowther hosted the first three series, and a Christmas Special in 1991. At the time of his car accident in October 1992, he was booked to record an Elvis Presley special (which was later hosted by Russ Abbot) and a fourth series (later hosted by Matthew Kelly) in 1993.[3]

It then became apparent that Crowther would not be able to return. He announced his retirement in 1994, and died 2 years later. Therefore, Kelly hosted the show until the live grand final of the 15th series on 13 March 2004.[4] Kelly announced a few days earlier that he would quit the show in order to pursue his acting career full-time.[5] Kelly also hosted the 2001 pilot episode,[6] and first series of the kids version in 2002.[7]

In January 2003, Kelly was arrested by police over allegations of child sex abuse resulting in Davina McCall temporarily guest hosting the show for three celebrity specials.[8] Kelly returned after the charges were dropped.[9]

Cat Deeley, who previously took over as host of the kids version in 2003,[10] was Kelly's replacement for the final adult series in 2005.[11] Deeley also hosted a number of celebrity specials in 2004.[12] In June 2006, ITV denied reports that the series was facing the axe although admitted that the future of the show was being discussed.[13][14] Deeley hosted the show until its final episode in December 2006; the show was subsequently axed by ITV.

The most impersonated stars are Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Cher, George Michael, Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue and Madonna.

2015 revival

Harry Hill took over as host on 10 January 2015, with all episodes pre-recorded at the BBC's Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, and the winner of each show again voted for by the studio audience.

The revival proved divisive - fans of the original format were critical of it, saying that Harry Hill had made the show about him rather than the contestants; while others acknowledged that the revival was a post-modern parody of the original, with its knowing ridicule of talent show cliches such as terrible performances being overpraised, and the actions of the presenter receiving high editorial focus to distract from the outdated performance element being thinly stretched.[15] Each episode features Harry being pursued by Adele (really a look-alike) for being in possession of her baby and she would comically chase him until she got the baby back.

In April 2015, it was announced that due to poor viewing figures, ITV would not be renewing the show for another series, and it was axed.[16]

Reported 2020 return

In March 2020, it was reported that ITV would replace The X Factor with a second revival of Stars in Their Eyes later in the year, however this time with a celebrity panel of judges.[17][18]

Format

Stars in Their Eyes is a talent show where contestants get the chance to appear and sing live as a famous singer. The show is most importantly a 'soundalike' show, but they are also dressed up to look as close as possible to the singer they are impersonating, often with wigs and heavy makeup. Each contestant would walk through 'smoky' doors before instantly reappearing dressed up as their chosen star.

Heats

The contestants appear firstly as themselves, talking briefly to the host about their lives and giving clues as to who they are going to be performing as, finishing with the now famous catchphrase 'Tonight [presenter name] I'm going to be...' The contestants then disappear through the equally famous doors, and reappear as the famous singer they are going to impersonate about five minutes later.

At the end of the show, the studio audience vote for their favourite, and the winner is announced. The winners from each show in the series return for the grand final to perform once more.

Grand Final

1990–1992, 2015

In the original Leslie Crowther version and 2015 revival, the grand finals were pre-recorded and the winner of the whole series was voted for by the studio audience at the end of the show. The first series in 1990 also had a celebrity panel, consisting of Joe Longthorne, Sally Dynevor and Pete Waterman, who gave their opinions after each performance.[19]

1993–2006

When Matthew Kelly took over, the grand finals were broadcast live and the winner of the whole series was voted for by the viewing public through the phone lines and in later years online as well. The winner was announced later on that same evening in a separate broadcast.

The same process applied during Cat Deeley's tenure as host.

Episode guide
Main article: List of Stars in Their Eyes episodes

Champions

Regular series

Junior series

Transmissions

Reception

Ratings and awards

It remains one of Britain's most successful shows of all time, attracting around 13 million viewers for the live grand final at the end of each series. It has one of the most memorable catchphrases in TV history: 'Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be...’ and was named Most Popular Entertainment Programme at the National Television Awards in 1996, 1998,[30] 1999[31] and 2000.[32] The show was nominated for the same award again in 1997, 2001[33] and 2002[34] but lost out to other ITV shows.

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See also

References
  1. "Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes: Has it been axed by ITV?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. "BFI Screenonline: Tarrant, Chris (1946-) Biography". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. "Tonight Mathew I'm Going To Be..." British Classic Comedy. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  4. "Street trio bid farewell to Kelly". BBC News. BBC. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  5. Wilkes, Neil (9 March 2004). "Kelly quits 'Stars in their Eyes'". Digital Spy.
  6. "Youngsters get their big break; Stars In Their Eyes: Kids Special ITV, 8.15pm". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 21 July 2001. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  7. "Stars In Their Eyes: Kids 2002". 5 September 2002. Retrieved 17 March 2020 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  8. Wilkes, Neil (17 January 2003). "McCall stands in on 'Stars in Their Eyes'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. "Police drop Kelly abuse inquiry". BBC News. 24 February 2003.
  10. "Deeley takes Kelly's Stars role". 12 March 2003. Retrieved 17 March 2020 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  11. Wilkes, Neil (18 February 2005). "Cat Deeley quits 'CD:UK'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. "Kelly to quit Stars in Their Eyes". www.irishexaminer.com. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  13. Dowell, Ben (1 June 2006). "Stars in Their Eyes awaits ITV's verdict". Retrieved 17 March 2020 – via www.theguardian.com.
  14. "Final bow for 'Stars in Their Eyes'?". The Independent. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  15. "Tonight, Harry, I'm Going to be A Post-Postmodern Nightmare: The Dismal Return of 'Stars in their Eyes'". Vice. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  16. "Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes axed after one series". Metro. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  17. "Stars in their Eyes could be set to make surprise return to screens this Autumn". Radio Times. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  18. "Rylan wants Jane McDonald to host Stars in Their Eyes amid reboot claims". 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  19. "Third time lucky for Stars in their Eyes on ITV?". 14 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  20. "A kind of magic for Stars winner". BBC News. BBC. 21 May 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  21. Lister, Mark (22 May 2000). "Freddie beat Big C; Op saved Stars In Their Eyes winner". The Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  22. "Stars win for opera diva". BBC News. BBC. 3 December 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  23. "Dusty dazzles as Stars winner". BBC News. BBC. 15 July 2001. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  24. "Stars winner looks ahead". BBC News. BBC. 28 April 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  25. "Gordon wins European Elvis title". 10 January 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2020 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  26. "Teenager wins TV talent show". BBC News. BBC. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  27. "Starry-eyed Laura wins". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror. 2 June 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  28. "Teenage singer Ashlea Pearson is looking forward to a career in showbusiness, despite failing to win a public vote in a TV talent contest". The Journal. Trinity Mirror. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  29. "Stars in Their Eyes". www.georgeformby.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  30. "Barrymore makes it four in TV awards". BBC News. 28 October 1998. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  31. "Thaw's double TV victory". BBC News. 27 October 1999. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  32. "National Television Awards: The winners". BBC News. 10 October 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  33. "Top TV nomination for Barrymore". BBC News. 9 October 2001. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  34. "National TV awards: 2002 shortlist". BBC News. 15 October 2002. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
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