ITV1 announces ‘Popstar to Operastar’

ITV1 has confirmed that primetime show Popstar to Operastar will premiere on its winter 2010 schedule, debuting on January 15. The 6 x 1-hour show, produced by ITV Studios, follows eight established singers as they are trained to sing world famous opera songs. Two professional mentors, Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon, will guide singers that include Blur's bassist Alex James, Bernie Nolan and Kym Marsh, to perform opera and stay in the competition. Their operatic attempts will be critiqued by Jenkins and Villazon, musician Meat Loaf and TV presenter and Classic FM radio host Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen.