30 July 2010, 5:50 am
I sat on the stage. This was it. I looked up into the crowd I could see my dad, Mathew and his husband Billy in the second row, sat with Ashleigh and Jordan my two best friends and their mum Deanna and Dad Michael. I looked round the audience; thousands of faces all stared back. I took a quick look at the judges and immediately regretted it as another wave of nausea washed through my body. There were about six or seven cameras all pointing at me and another on a wire suspended above me. There would be millions of people all across Britain sitting watching their TV screens watching me. I couldn’t mess this up. The only light was on Josh McQueen, presenter of ‘Catch a Falling Star’ ‘And now ladies and gentlemen, some say leave the best until last but I’ll let you be the judge of that. Please put your hands together for Lexi Smith!’ He announced. There was a thunderous applause around me, I was so glad I was sitting on the piano stool or I’m pretty sure my knees would have buckled and I would be on the floor. As Josh walked off the stage he gave me an encouraging smile and winked. The light shifted and was now on me. You can do this I told myself. I place my hands on the keys of the black, grand piano that sat in front of me and let them take over. As the first note of Ronan Keatings ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ I felt myself relax. This was the song I had sung in my audition and confident I could win with it. ‘Catch a Falling Star’ is a new reality TV talent show. Everyone that applied had to do an audition in front of the three judges. Then we were cut down to 21. Seven for each judge, we then had to sing again for our mentor with a song of their choice before being cut down to three for each judge and making it to the live stages. To enter ‘Catch a Falling Star’ you have to be able to sing, dance and act. It was open to anyone aged 16 and over and the winner won a recording contract and second place won a place in a West End Show. Each week all the contestants would sing, act (a scene from a West End Show, TV show or film) and perform a choreographed dance routine that the contestants (with a little help from a professional) had choreographed I played the ending chords to ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ and looked up into the audience. A thunderous applause erupted around me; everyone seemed to be on their feet. To say relief washed through me was a bit of an understatement. All the judges were on their feet including Steven Dennis, owner of one of the biggest record labels in Britain. He was standing in the middle between Jessica Henry, manager to some of the biggest pop groups ever, and Sophie Leighton, one of the prettiest, pop singers around today, who was managed by Jessica and Steven, produced her singles. The applause finally died down and Josh was at my side. ‘Okay we’ll go to Sophie first.’ I could see why everyone thought she was pretty. She had jet black, straight hair and intense green eyes. She was every guys dream girl. ‘Lexi, Lexi, Lexi that was absolutely spectacular.’ She gushed. ‘I must admit you’ve been my favourite all the way through, you just have that extra something. You have to win it with that.’ The crowds went wild with that response. ‘Thank you Sophie; Jessica?’ Jessica was in her late 50s with a short hazel brown bob, eyes that were nearly the same colour as her hair, she had crow’s feet, and lines round her mouth thanks to her 40 a day habit. ‘If you don’t win tonight then I am a man.’ She declared. The crowds erupted again. ‘Being honest you were probably terrified at the beginning and you were off key in the first 30 seconds but after that you seemed to relax and enjoy it.’ ‘Thank you and finally Steven?’ ‘The reason I kept you in the competition was because I honestly believed you could win it, and I stand by that. The thing that makes you special is I don’t think you truly know how good you are. You are amazing and have done me and all your family proud tonight. Well done.’ The crowd’s screams and applause drowned out what Josh was saying even thought he was standing right beside me. The cameras were back on me. I hadn’t noticed the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. ‘Very impressive comments there Lexi, what would you like to say?’ Josh asked holding the microphone in front of my mouth. ‘I always thought I was an average singer, more of a drama queen.’ The audience laughed; even I managed a wet smile. ‘And even when I stood on the stage tonight I still believed that but maybe I was wrong. Oh and can I quickly say thanks to Steve for believing in me and getting me this far; to Jessica and Sophie for their comments each week; my family and friends for their support i love you; everyone that votes for me each week, they have no idea how much it means to me; and all the people that do an amazing job backstage,’ I babbled as fast as I could. I spotted my dad and Billy they both had smiles from ear to ear. Josh read my number and I made my way of... Read More »
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