A BIG all singing, all dancing showcase is hitting the small screen this Saturday thanks to a lot of Bolton talent.

Not only is Better Than the Real Thing to be hosted by funny man Paddy McGuinness, but Boltonians have also played a part behind the scenes.

When the BBC show premiers tomorrow night the first thing viewers will be hearing is the theme tune – devised and produced by Media City recording studio GAS Music, founded by Gary Hilton and Steve Southern from Johnson Fold.

Mr Hilton said: “It’s really exciting.

“You can come up with a great piece of music and think it’s alright, then the BBC come along and love it! Suddenly it’s elevated.

“With Paddy in the show, it’s the Bolton massive taking over!”

Even Better Than the Real Thing is a 60-minute special bringing together the world’s top tribute artists for a night of performing and competing.

The team were approached by the BBC to put in a pitch for the theme – keen to make sure all production for the show stayed in the North.

Mr Hilton added: “They wanted it to be contemporary but not too ‘alternative’. Our approach was not what you would expect a theme tune to be!

“It has been a huge job for us, we even had all the artists from the show here in the studio.

“They wanted a backdrop for pictures and I brought my son along, he had the best day! Debbie Harry looks just like here – we are really looking forward to the show now.”

GAS Music have had the theme tune by Manchester musician Mark Reeder and will be released under the title Law (Even Better Than the Real Thing Remix).

Even Better Than the Real Thing starts at 7pm on BBC One.