Michelle McManus knows all about the ups and downs of talent show fame following her win on Pop Idol in 2003.
7 years on, Michelle has carved out a successful career managing to combine singing appearances with her role as co-host of STV show The Hour. She took time out of her busy schedule to talk to stv.tv about shows like The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent and what she makes of the stars that have emerged from talent show TV.
29 year old Michelle admitted to being a big Leona Lewis fan and revealed: “I think it’s wonderful. I think if these talent shows can change someone’s life so dramatically and give them that kind of fame they crave and that’s what they want, then it’s doing its job. It does what it says on the tin.”
The talented singer also spoke about her admiration for fellow Scots star Susan Boyle saying: “SuBo I thinks a whole different kettle of fish because there’s something really pleasing about Susan Boyle.
“I mean whether you think she’s the best singer in the world or not. I’ve read recently about people saying she’s just really average or she’s not as good as what people say and that may be the case if that’s what you think, but how lovely to see this woman who lived quite a sheltered life her whole life, who was the victim of bullying from the local community, who is now going to move to America. It’s a place where people love her and her talents will be appreciated. It’s just a wonderful story it’s a feel good factor story.”
Michelle is all to aware of the pitfalls that come with being thrust into the media spotlight but she thinks Susan will handle it, telling stv.tv’s Laura Boyd: “There was obviously the controversy surrounding how she was treated and her vulnerability which is a separate issue which I don’t know anything about as I wasn’t involved.
“But in Scotland we look after our own and we like to see our own do well and I think it’s wonderful that this wee woman who lived in West Lothian, in a wee village, has gone on to get her first £4 million cheque, so life’s not that bad”
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So has the whole experience put Michelle off? Not at all! The star revealed she wouldn’t hesitate in recommending entering a show like X Factor or BGT. She said: “It completely changed my life for the better, but then I wasn’t going into the show because my life was perfect the way it was. I didn’t go into the show cause I wanted to change my life or better it in some way, it was only to really compliment what I had existing anyway.
“There’s no point in going to these shows thinking that ‘I’m going to make lots of money. It’s going to change my life.’ Just be happy with who you are anyway and what happens on the show is irrelevant. It will just add or compliment what you already have.”
A good positive way to look at things, Ms McManus summed up her feelings by saying: “It’s a great experience if it’s something you really, really want to do. If it’s there for the taking then why not queue up like I did and audition.”
