A 20-YEAR-OLD country singer from Prenton is one of ten artists competing in a new talent show on BBC.

'Emelle' started singing when she was four in musical theatre shows and then taught herself to play the guitar aged nine.

When she was 11, Emelle started singing in pubs around West Kirby and then toured parts of Germany performing when she was just 14.

Since then, she has had plays on Radio 2's The Country Show with Bob Harris and has amassed a huge following on social media. 

Speaking to the Globe, Emelle, a waitress, said: "I've been songwriting since I was nine. I was really badly bullied in school so songwriting was my way of getting out my feelings."

During lockdown, Emelle made a TikTok account and ended up getting 9m views on one of her videos and now has over 140,000 followers.

@emelleofficial #abcdefu @GAYLE #gayle #singinginmyaccent #wirraltiktok #SpotifyWrapped #HONOR50duet #fypシ #accent #accentchallenge ♬ ABCDEFU SCOUSE - EMELLE

Getting a place on BBC's Project Icon

Pop superstart Jason Derulo's new show Project Icon sees ten aspiring recording artists battle it out in the hopes of becoming the UK’s next music icon.

The show puts artists to the test by having them compete in a series of challenges that reflect the realities of the music industry today, from creating a viral TikTok video to performing an original signature song. 

Emelle said: "I was scouted through my TikTok and they contacted me to have a talk about the show and to audition.

"I was very pessimistic about my music at the time and I thought they would think I wasn't very good.

"I just thought there were so many amazing people. I got the call while I was at work in November to say I was on the show and I just ran to the toilet and cried."

Talking about the show, Emelle said it's a mix between "The X-Factor and The Apprentice."

Wirral Globe: 10 artists competing in the show10 artists competing in the show (Image: BBC)

"This is not the same as any other talent show. We get given challenges that are very real. Being a musician these days is not just about getting on stage and singing. 

"It's really new and fresh."

The artists are guided by three expert judges: Derulo, Brit Award winner Becky Hill and music mogul Frank Harris.

"Meeting them was mad. Absolutely crazy. I've grown up listening to Jason and I am his biggest fan. Him, Becky, and Frank were all so lovely," Emelle said.

"They were really honest and fair. They never said anything you weren't already thinking in your head."

Project Icon continues Sundays on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.