Barlow searching for fresh talent

Gary Barlow has revealed that he can regularly be found attending small gigs in the hope of finding the next big thing.

The singer has started his own management and publishing company and searches for fresh talent to sign up.

"I am at a lot of gigs, me. I go to The Dublin Castle, Boogaloo, The Bedford," he told The Sun.

"I don’t wear a disguise but I’m up the back keeping it low-key. It’s mostly in London. Now and again I am in Manchester. I work with our tour promoter on a lot of the scouting.

"I don’t want to be Simon Cowell but I will do what he has done but my way. He goes for people he thinks he can make into something, I try to find people who are already something."

Barlow recently told X Factor contestant Diana Vickers that he would sign up the 17-year-old if Cowell failed to do so.