Ellysse Mason - winner of Rochdale’s Got Talent 2010

Rochdale's Got Talent winner Ellysse Mason

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Ellysse Mason, 14, from Syke scooped the £500 prize money when she won the grand final of Rochdale’s Got Talent at the Broadfield Park Hotel last night (Friday 21 May).

“I am so shocked and amazed. I am really happy. I really didn’t expect to win.

"I am going to spend some of the money on singing lessons.

"Thank you to everybody that voted for me to get me into the final.

“All the singers tonight have been amazing and I definitely had tough competition,” said Ellysse.

Ellysse attends Falinge High School and has a real love for music; she hopes to be a songwriter one day.

She wowed the judges by singing a song she had written herself called ‘Spotlight’ - the lyrics reflected what Ellysse thought all the contestants would be feeling on the night.

Ellysse's mum, Emma Travis said: “I can’t believe it, I am gob smacked. I am so pleased and so proud.

"There have been some great singers tonight and I knew it would be a close call.”

Ellysse was one of nine contestants to perform in the live grand final in front of a panel of five judges and a packed audience.

Compere for the evening Keith Rudman said: “This competition has been fully justified, Rochdale has got talent! Who knows what we will find next year; the standard tonight has been fantastic and everybody is a winner!”

The judging panel was:

• Dale Mulgrew - Son and agent of comedian Jimmy Cricket 
• Colin Meredith - Local Actor with credits such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale to his name 
• Margaret Cigna - Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre 
• Richard Catlow - Rochdale & Heywood Independent

Speaking to Rochdale Online after the competition, Dale Mulgrew said: “I really and truly think Rochdale has got talent! Tonight has been mesmerising and fantastically entertaining. I think all the contestants should give themselves a pat on the back.

“However, the winner was head and shoulders above the rest. Ellysee has great talent and ability and tonight she displayed great quality with an absolutely wonderful performance.

“As a judge I can see a very bright future and I would like to see her perform at many occasions in the Rochdale area.”

Margaret Cigna of the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre echoed Mr Mulgrew's comments when she said: “The winner was fantastic the decision was more or less unanimous.”

Ms Cigna added: “The standard tonight was much higher than I imagined.

"Hopefully next year we can do it again and make it bigger and better.”

The £500 prize was presented by Miss Rochdale, Frankie Whitworth, she said: “Everybody has done brilliant. They are all so brave it must be so nerve-wracking.

“I think the best person won, although they all did really well.

"It has been a great night with a great atmosphere and I personally, really enjoyed it.”

The finalists were:

• AC3 
• Ceara Brown 
• Courtney Cecere 
• Demi Leigh McGrath 
• Dynamix 
• Ellysse Mason 
• Jade Kilduff 
• Morgan Harper-Jones 
• Publicity Stunt

Judge Colin Meredith said: “It has been very difficult being a judge because there is such a variety of talent.

"Congratulations to everybody tonight, there has been a fantastic amount of effort put in and let’s just hope that tonight is just the start of an annual Rochdale’s Got Talent competition."

The competition has been running for several weeks, the first stage was to upload a video of the act to be displayed on the competition pages on Rochdale Online, the top 20 were then chosen for showcase performances at the Exchange Shopping Centre, and, following a public vote the finalists took to the stage for the grand final in front of the judging panel.

The winner, Ellysse Mason, walked away with £500 prize money courtesy of Rochdale Borough Council.

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