Six vie for Academy spots

Paris Campbell-Edwards will be hoping to impress viewers

The penultimate group of pop wannabes will be hoping to warble their way into the BBC's Fame Academy.

Six potential students will sing live on Saturday, hoping to catch the ears of the public who will vote in just three of them.

So far seven contestants, five men and two women, have won places in the academy, where they will be taught techniques to guide them to musical stardom.

Viewers have been given the responsibility of whittling down 25 people to the 13 who will enter the academy on 6 August.

The eventual winner of the show will be rewarded with a one-year recording contract and the chance to live the life of a pop star, complete with luxury flat.

Third round hopefuls Nathan Thomas, 24, from Hertford, soulful guitarist and songwriter Paris Campbell-Edwards, 23, from London, R'n'B, soft rock, keyboard player Ryan Fletcher, 20, from Glasgow, indie, guitar playing songwriter Sally Dawson, 26, from Bradford, powerful soul Simone Stewart: 26, from Harrow, pop and R'n'B Terence Surin, 20, from South East London, R'n'B, soul and pop

Last year's winner, David Sneddon, has so far enjoyed two top three singles, while several runners-up have also had chart success.

Fame Academy II began on 26 July, when an average of 4.9 million viewers for the two live shows.

The second round of auditions on Wednesday saw audiences fall to 3.2 million.

Fame Academy II will have to compete against the second series of ITV1's Pop Idol when it returns on 9 August.

The time slots of the two talent shows will overlap, leaving viewers having to make a choice of which TV talent show to watch.