Trio win Academy places

Paris Campbell-Edwards passed with flying colours

Three more pop singing hopefuls have won places at the BBC's Fame Academy II.

Six contestants performed live in the studio and were subject to a public vote on Saturday.

The top two were Paris Campbell-Edwards, 23, from London, and 25-year-old Barry McKeever, from Lurgan, County Armagh.

The third place was decided by the students already selected to attend the academy, and was given to Simone Stewart, 26, from Harrow, north-west London.

Ten pupils have now been selected and three more will be picked before the 13 finalists start their course at the north London "school" on 6 August.

Barry McKeever was runner-up

They will be televised as they are coached by music industry experts in singing, dancing and writing music.

Weekly auditions, voted on by the public and other academy students, will whittle down the 13 to an eventual winner.

Show producers have promised big stars will also visit the academy to teach the pupils.

More than 12,000 people auditioned for the show, which was last year won by former Glaswegian busker David Sneddon.

The winner receives a one-year recording contract with Polydor and a 12-month showbiz lifestyle, including a luxury flat and a sports car.

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

It will have to compete against the second series of ITV1's Pop Idol, which returns on 9 August.