GROVE PARK: He missed out on Pop Idol but he is determined to sing

A TEENAGE singer from Grove Park who missed his second audition for TV sensation Pop Idol could become the next big thing.

Stephen Blackie, 18, of Claybridge Road, started singing seven years ago when he made his debut karaoke performance on a holiday with his mum and sister.

Currently a painter and decorator, he moved to London about a year ago, thinking it would be a bit easier to make it in the music industry than in Scotland.

He impressed judges during a recent audition for hit-show Pop Idol, in London, and was invited to return, but misread the details he was sent and turned up four days late.

Stephen said: "I then went to the open audition in London and tried again but I was unlucky. It really did knock my confidence and at the time I was quite upset about it."

But undeterred he sent a recording of his singing to the BBC and had a successful audition for BBC1 talent show The Next Big Thing.

Filmed in front of an audience of 250 people, Stephen sang one of two songs he has written, entitled It's Only Me, which he has described as a pop ballad.

Speaking about the show, Stephen said: "I don't know why I entered it, it just seemed like a good thing on the website. I just sent off a CD and forgot about it, then I received a letter inviting me to audition.

"It is quite embarrassing when people listen to your song.You think are they going to laugh at it but they seemed to like it.

"My friends and family are just dead proud of me and are hopeful this is a chance for me to be spotted."

But it was not his first appearance in front of the camera as the budding singer appeared on BBC Scotland's Children in Need in 1998.

To see Stephen's performance tune into BBC1 at 4.35pm on February 15.