Dannii Minogue and Martin Kemp will join Gary Barlow as judges on the BBC talent show Let It Shine, it has been announced. The upcoming Saturday night programme will see amateur singers compete to perform in a new stage production based around the music of Take Take, and will follow a similar format to Andrew Lloyd-Webber's previous shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do.
Gary Barlow will appear as a judge on a new Take That talent show
Spandau Ballet bassist and actor Martin will be a permanent judge, as will Australian star Dannii, while Amber Riley, best known for her role as Mercedes Jones in Glee, will be a judge in the first stage of the competition, it has been revealed.
The show will be presented by Graham Norton and The Great British Bake Off's Mel Giedroyc.
Both Gary and Dannii have previously worked as judges on The X Factor before, but this will be their first time judging a talent contest together.
He will be joined by Martin Kemp and Dannii Minogue
"I'm so excited to be returning to the UK and joining the judging panel of Let It Shine," Dannii, 44, said. "To be a performer, you must have a burning desire to perform, then you train at all the skills you need to shine. This show gives everyone that chance."
Martin - who found fame along with his brother Gary in Spandau Ballet, before turning his hand to acting - said he was "thrilled" to have the chance to "pass on a little of my 45 years' worth of experience… to young people just starting out on their journey".
© Photo: Getty ImagesGlee star Amber Riley will help judge the first stage of the competition
The 54-year-old added: "I won't just be judging, but trying to give constructive thought that will help them towards winning that incredible final prize."
Gary, meanwhile, praised his fellow judges, saying that they "bring so much to this panel with the breadth of experience in music, acting, stage and TV".
Let It Shine will begin its eight-week run on BBC One in the New Year.
