Eurovision hit A TWO minute spot on Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People two years ago changed the life of a Farnworth teenager - and even led to a change of name.

Now, songstress Joanne Hindley (whose new stage name is Joanne May) is one of eight contenders vying to represent Great Britain in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

And she's hoping that all her friends back home will vote with their fingers when telephone voting for the final four entries takes place tomorrow on Radio 2.

Joanne's entry was played twice yesterday and will be repeated tomorrow.

"May the best person win, and let it be me!" joked Joanne, 18, who has just signed a deal with London Records.

Over the past two years Joanne's life has changed out of all recognition. It was just weeks after leaving Harper Green School, Farnworth that she captured the hearts and ears of the country with her show stopping rendition of Whitney Houston's 'I Have Nothing' at Croydon shopping centre. The determined youngster travelled to Croydon after attending a similar Barrymore showcase in Warrington and failing to secure a spot.

"I had no idea the impact that short broadcast would have. It was amazing. There were so many people ringing from record labels."

And the producers of Barrymore's show were equally impressed.

They invited the teenager, from Iris Avenue, Farnworth, on to Barrymore's Saturday night variety show to perform 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me' in front of a television audience of millions.

From there Joanne was signed up by a manager in London and recently bagged the deal with London Records.

"And that's when I changed my name. May sounds so much nicer than Hindley."

She added: "At the moment everything is happening so fast. I can't believe this is all happening to me."

Back home in Farnworth, dad Dave and mum Carol, and her three brothers and two sisters are proud as punch of Joanne, who started her career entertaining the family by singing into a hair brush. Now the family are all hoping that Joanne makes it to the last four contenders for the Eurovision song contest. If she achieves that she will then appear on the National Lottery show, where viewers will be invited to vote for the act that will represent Great Britain.

She said: "I'm not nervous yet but I will be if I make it to the final four. But quite honestly it's a dream to have got this far. And I'm still only 18."

Joanne's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest is the ballad 'You Stayed Away Too Long', which is released on the London label on March 10.

Joanne's song will be played between 9.30am and 10am tomorrow on the Terry Wogan special Eurovision show on Radio 2. And the voting phone lines will be open from 10am to 11.15am. The number to ring is 0891 44 77 08.

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