ASPIRING singers were given the opportunity to showcase their talents as a major television talent show ran its first stage of auditions at Theatr Clwyd on Tuesday.

The hit ITV show 'The Voice' hosted the producers' auditions for its 2019 series, and while this meant that none of the judges themselves were present, it did not deter singers from across the region from filling all the slots within 24 hours when they became available last month.

Raquel Lee, 36, from Chester

And The Leader were on hand to talk all things singing with some of the contestants, ranging from a Dad auditioning to embarrass his daughter through to a children's entertainer, who are all hoping to make it the next phase.

The first to audition was Raquel Lee, 36, from Chester, who works in promotions and said she has always dreamt of singing professionally.

Lucia Gittins-Jones, 16, from Wrexham

Raquel said: “I’ve been singing all my life and it seems forever and this show is certainly great for exposure. I got through to the blind auditions a couple of years ago but I hope to go further this time.

“It’s hard to say which judge I would like to work with but it would probably be Tom Jones or Will.I.Am.”

Rebecca Woolford, 17, from Flint

Next up was Caleb East, a 17 year old from Mold, who is currently studying music at Yale College and was talked into trying the auditions by his dad Chris.

Caleb said: “I got into singing about four years ago when I started learning how to play the guitar. I like all kinds of music from Indy through to Metal so I don’t have a certain taste in music.

Laura Griffiths, 28, from Caergwrle

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“The Voice is a great opportunity and if I got through I would want to work with somebody like Will.I.Am.”

Lucia Gittins-Jones, 16, is from Wrexham and an aspiring stage actress and Year 11 pupil at The Maelor School in Penley.

She sang Feeling Good by Michael Buble and Muse and said: “This is a really cool opportunity. I’ve sang loads of solos through the years in school and I had a lot of people saying I should audition for The Voice.

“I like acting and come to Theatre Clwyd every week for the weekly workshops. Ever since I was little I’ve always loved being on stage or in front of a camera and it’s only recently I realised it could be a career.

“Some of my teachers said you could do this as a career and I thought yes I would love to do this as a job.”

Rebecca Woolford, 17, from Flint is a Year 12 pupil at Flint High School.

She said: “My mum found out they were doing the auditions here and I’ve wanted to do something like this for years.

“I’m going to sing Hallelujah for the audition because I watched my mum walk down the aisle to that and it’s one of my favourite songs.

“I used to train at Theatre Clwyd and I would like to go into theatre. I really like David Bowie because my mum loved Labyrinth and I watched him through that and I’m obsessed. ''

Laura Griffiths, 28, from Caergwrle, runs her own business as a children’s entertainer.

She sang No Roots by Alice Merton for her audition and said: “I’ve never auditioned before and this is very spontaneous. I have done some performing recently but I don’t do a lot of singing because I teach.

“My dad was a singer in a band and I have a sister and brother who both sing but my other brother can’t sing a note so luckily I’ve skipped a gene. I love the concept of The Voice and the fact that people who get through are always genuine singers.”

Kevin McAughrey, 37, from Buckley works as a health and safety advisor and provided one of the more comical reasons for auditioning, entering the audition because his 13 year old daughter Jessica said he shouldn’t though the sheer cringe factor.

Kevin, whose favourite judge is Tom Jones, said: ''I’m not your average auditionee and I’m only here to prove to my daughter that I can do it.

“My daughter said 'don’t you dare apply, it’s cringey and embarrassing,' so I had to have a go. I used to play in a band years ago, but I just do karaoke now.

“I like classic rock like Brian Adams and The Eagles and I’ll be singing Amazed by Lonestar for the audition. Music’s always been part of the family really and we do enjoy singing.

“Jessica knows I’m here today and when I left she gave me a big hug and wished me luck. I’m here to represent the young looking, I won’t say good looking, middle age bracket.

“I said to my wife even if I don’t go any further then it’s a tick off the old bucket list.”

There are five stages to the show: the producers' auditions, blind auditions, battle phase, knockouts, and live shows. The eventual winner receives £100,000 and a record deal with Republic Records. Those successful in their auditions will next meet the judges for the first time at the televised blind audition stage.