Reborn contest dies quietly

Tom Bishop
BBC News Online

It was fortunate that viewers' favourite Peter Cox forgot his words and lost his place in the live final of Reborn in the USA.

Tony Hadley was brimming with confidence

Instead of facing the Go West singer, Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley was up against former EastEnder Michelle Gayle in a much more even contest.

The two remained from a group of 10 former pop stars who spent seven weeks singing for their supper in US bars and clubs.

This surreal series began dramatically, as Then Jericho vocalist Mark Shaw drunkenly flounced off and Sonia performed a hilariously painful version of The Greatest Love of All.

The Reborn tour bus slowed as weeks progressed, however, and a spectacular final was needed to lift everyone's spirits.

Tawdry

Enthusiastic as ever, Davina McCall summoned all the competitors onstage to hear Tony say he would win if the contest was "down to pure talent", a remark earning pantomime boos and hisses from the audience.

Gayle responded by promising her "presumptuous" competitor she would be "performing my ass off".

With these moments of genuine ITV drama, the stage was set. Unfortunately the stage was on loan from Pop Idol and its tawdry glamour was less than special.

Viewers could be forgiven for thinking they had stumbled upon Stars in Their Eyes, bearing witness to a pitch-perfect Tony Hadley impersonator who has put on a few pounds.

Gayle's performances were rougher around the edges yet more soulful, hinting at a future career as an R 'n' B vocalist.

Anti-climax

Between songs, behind-the-scenes footage from previous shows was screened.

This was where the real fun lay and too little of this unguarded celebrity sniping, posturing and flirtation was broadcast during the series.

Anticipation resurfaced as the final advert break loomed, the culmination of seven weeks' loyal TV watching soon upon us.

McCall quickly burst that bubble, however, returning to plainly state that Hadley had won and here was his hit from 1986.

Glitter fell from the ceiling, audience members checked their watches and competitors scurried off under an overwhelming air of anti-climax.

If anyone was "reborn" it was Gayle, Cox and Ultimate Kaos' Haydon Eshun, who deserve a new lease of pop life as a result.

The series put the final nail in the coffins of Mark Shaw, Dollar and Sonia, however.

But what about the victor? As McCall wisely told him: "You're a huge star once again."

Reborn in the USA - The Final was on Saturday April 26 at 1800 GMT on ITV1.