Talented EK youngsters reach next stage of Comic Relief Glee Club

Mar 16 2011 by Shona Mitchell, East Kilbride News

YOUNGSTERS from East Kilbride were jumping for joy when they got through to the later stages of Comic Relief Does Glee Club.

And tonight (Wednesday) they’re looking for your votes to win through to the final three acts competing in the grand final on Red Nose Day itself.

On Monday night’s programme on BBC1, Action, a group of 15 youngsters who are part of Stagecoach East Kilbride, won through to the last nine of the competition which auditioned hundreds of groups throughout the UK.

Action were voted through by the professional judges to appear in the show tonight (Wednesday), when they will be one of only three groups performing musical theatre numbers vying to get into Friday’s final.

Action wowed judges Carrie and David Grant and Sisco Gomez with their version of You Can't Stop the Beat from the smash hit musical, Hairspray.

Commenting on Action’s performance in Monday night’s show, Sisco Gomez said: “You guys are all fantastic, all likeable. I can't wait to see you guys again if you get through.”

James Miller, 16, from Westwood, one of the Action members, said they were all delighted at getting through.

He said: “This experience is something we'll cherish for the rest of our lives.”

Fellow Action member, 12-year-old Iona Thompson, from Nerston, said: “It's been absolutely fantastic and we would like to thank all our friends and everybody who has supported us.”

And 12-year-old Jodi Alexander from Mossneuk added: “Being on camera is just the best thing. And it's great the way we have all worked together to make this happen.”

Sharon Symon, principal of the theatre arts school where the members of Action are students, said: “I can remember the first time that number was performed at summer workshop in August – now here we are seven months later and they are performing it on national television. It is a dream come true for them.”

The talented youngsters who make up Action are seven youngsters from East Kilbride: James Miller, 16, from Westwood; Hannah Stewart, 10, from St Leonards; Ava Syme, 10, from St Leonards; Caroline Bury, 14, from Stewartfield; Jodi Alexander, 12, from Mossneuk; Iona Thompson, 12, from Nerston and Katie McDougall, 10, from Kittochglen.

Strathaven youngster, Amy Scott, 11, also forms part of the group alongside members from Hamilton, Larkhall and Cambuslang.

Action is up against two other groups doing musical theatre songs in the Comic Relief Does Glee Club programme to be broadcast on BBC1 tonight (Wednesday) at 5.15pm.

If they win through this stage they will be one of only three groups to appear in the grand final on Red Nose Day itself – on BBC1 on Friday at 5.15pm.