meet the expert panel who will pick the winner of Glasgow's Star Turn 2012. MATTY SUTTON spoke to the showbusiness stars who are determined to find the city's next great act.

HEADING up the glittering panel is Pop Idol winner and Evening Times columnist MICHELLE McMANUS.

The 32-year-old singing sensation from Glasgow's Shawlands said she is on the look out for the next big thing.

She said: "I am looking for someone who blows me away with their talent.

"I am not going to say someone is good if I don't think they are because I wouldn't want to give anybody any false hope.

"I would like singers to pick the right song and the right key for them and not try and do anything too over-the- top because they think it is going to impress."

Although Michelle is excited about the singers, she said she is looking for anyone who can entertain an audience.

She said: "Whether it is a musician, a singer or dancer or a stand-up comedian, if I feel genuinely entertained by the end of the performance I think I will be delighted.

"I just hope it will be a really fun night, I'm looking for lots of audience support and participation and I want to walk away thinking 'I am so proud to be from Glasgow and have all this talent in the one city'."

"Everyone has got to start somewhere and that was the same for me when I picked up the phone for Pop Idol.

"If you want a fair crack at the whip, come along and you never know what you will get."

NEWSREADER, television presenter and music fan CATRIONA SHEARER, 30, is really excited to see what Glasgow has to offer.

The 30-year-old Reporting Scotland host from rural Lanarkshire, said: "I will be looking for bags of personality, people who look like they are enjoying themselves and go up and give it loads.

"I want to see someone who has something different, a bit of sparkle and just raw talent."

A huge music fan herself, Catriona has met and worked with many Scottish bands and singers.

She said: "I don't think Glasgow is short on talent, Glaswegians are renowned for their personality and their lovable laugh.

"I am a huge music fan and I love loads of Scottish bands and singers and we know there are loads of them out there so I am hoping to see some great musical talent.

"I'm really excited to see what Glasgow has to offer because I know there are a lot of people who are really talented in different ways."

And it is not just singers that will excite Catriona.

She said: "With all the festivals in Glasgow, such as the Comedy Festival and Merchant City Festival, all these music and comedy festivals, I am really looking to see some great talent."

Catriona praised Glasgow's Star Turn, saying it was a great chance for the city's talented people to get noticed.

She added: "I think when you look at X Factor and The Voice, it always seems so far removed from reality and I think that Scotland isn't represented enough.

"We have way better talent up here than ever makes it onto these programmes."

DUBBED the King of Panto, DEAN PARK, will be adding a little bit of pantomime fun to the contest.

Famous for playing the dame, Dean, 61, of Newton Mearns, said he hoped to see lots of different kinds of acts.

The Clyde 2 radio presenter, said: "We will be looking for different kinds of things, if it is a comedy act we will be looking for the content and the originality as well and if its singing we are looking for quality."

He said he would like to see a good comedy act in the final.

Dean, who will join fellow judge Michelle on the stage at The Pavilion for this year's panto The Wizard of Never Woz, added: "Glasgow and Scotland is renowned for good comedians and I am sure there will be a few out there trying to enter the competition.

"And if we could get a good boy or girl band, that's great.

"Everybody that gets to the final is a winner, because they will have been through the other rounds to get to it.

"I think the contest is fantastic because there's a lot of great talent has come out of Glasgow and I am sure there will be lots more. "

COMEDIAN SANJEEV KOHLI, 41, from the West end promises he won't be slating anyone on the night.

The star of Glasgow comedy Still Game, in which he played shopkeeper Navid Harrid, and radio sitcom Fags, Mags and Bags, said he will be "not too harsh, but fair".

He said: "The very fact that you have applied to be in a talent contest means that you have put yourself out there already, so I always feel quite bad when people like that get slated .

"However, I am not such a nice guy that I want everyone to win!

"That' why we've podiums."

He said he will be keeping an open mind on the night.

"I'd hate to get prescriptive but I think that is the beauty of these things, you expect everything and anything and just take everything on its own merits.

"It is quite nice when you get all that talent in just one room and you see the potential that is out there, there is always a real buzz when you get creative people together, it will be a really good night. "I think Scotland, and in particular Glasgow, has always had a lot to offer.

"I am hoping to see a lot of exciting young and old talent.

"I think it will be a really buzzing evening and I am quite looking forward to it."

He urged contestants to bring their "A game" to the contest.

He added: "If you have got a talent then why would you not showcase it?

"If you have enough belief in what you do then bring it, we would like to see it."

TICKETS for the grand final of Glasgow's Star Turn 2012 at the Old Fruitmarket on Monday, July 30, are already on sale and cost £10 for adults, £7.50 for concessions and £30 for a family ticket.

For more information tel. 0141 353 8000 or visit www.glasgowconcerthalls.com