Il Divo

Source: Mirror.co.uk

It’s not their aria of expertise… but that won’t stop eight pop acts bidding for opera stardom.

Corrie’s Kym Marsh is already clearing her throat in readiness for ITV1’s new classical reality show, Popstar to Operastar.

Blur’s Alex James, Bernie Nolan, McFly’s Danny Jones, ex-Pop Idol star Darius Danesh, Shakespeare’s Sister’s Marcella Detroit, Jimmy Osmond and Vanessa White from girl band The Saturdays complete the line-up.

The artists will be trained to perform world-famous opera songs – with many singing in a different language for the first time. Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins will mentor the stars, along with famed tenor Rolando Villazon.

And then – in a bizarre twist – they will be judged on their weekly efforts by rock legend Meat Loaf and makeover king and Classic FM DJ Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

A source said: “Thanks to Paul Potts, Rhydian and Il Divo, classical music is at the top of the charts.

“But can just anyone turn into a tremendous tenor or stunning soprano?”

Blur bassist James has five No1 albums under his belt, the Nolan sisters have sold more than 25 million records and McFly had seven No1 singles and two No1 albums.

Little Jimmy Osmond sold more than 100 million records with his siblings and is also a platinum-selling solo artist. Darius’s debut single and album went in at No1, Kym’s former band Hear’Say also had a chart-topping album and Marcella topped the hit parade for eight weeks with Shakespeare’s Sister’s hit Stay.

White’s band have enjoyed five top 10 singles since their debut in 2008.

Myleene Klass and Alan Titchmarsh will host the show, which  kicks off on ITV1 on January 15.