Soaps
'Neighbours' picks talent hunt finalists
Published Monday, Jun 14 2010, 12:00 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly
Neighbours' UK talent search has entered its second stage after show bosses picked five finalists for the role of new character Poppy Rogers.
More than 1,500 British fans applied for the chance to play Poppy after the special contest was announced in April. Following the closing date for entries at the end of last month, producers in Australia drew up a shortlist of five budding stars to proceed to the next round.
Miriam Locke-Wheaton, Gabriella Darlington, Jennifer Hall, Jo Gleave and Olivia Kennett were picked by programme chiefs and their fate now lies in the hands of the public, who are being invited to vote for their favourites.
Voting opens today on Five's Neighbours website and will stay open until June 27. The two most popular finalists - to be announced on Live From Studio Five on June 28 - will then fly out to Australia, where Neighbours bosses are to pick a winner.
Poppy is a friend of Malcolm Kennedy who will arrive on Ramsay Street for a one-month guest role later this year. The character has been described as a "free-spirited young woman in her early 20s".
A similar talent hunt carried out in Australia led to the casting of Sam Clark (Ringo Brown), who has been in Neighbours for over three years.

More than 1,500 British fans applied for the chance to play Poppy after the special contest was announced in April. Following the closing date for entries at the end of last month, producers in Australia drew up a shortlist of five budding stars to proceed to the next round.
Miriam Locke-Wheaton, Gabriella Darlington, Jennifer Hall, Jo Gleave and Olivia Kennett were picked by programme chiefs and their fate now lies in the hands of the public, who are being invited to vote for their favourites.
Voting opens today on Five's Neighbours website and will stay open until June 27. The two most popular finalists - to be announced on Live From Studio Five on June 28 - will then fly out to Australia, where Neighbours bosses are to pick a winner.
Poppy is a friend of Malcolm Kennedy who will arrive on Ramsay Street for a one-month guest role later this year. The character has been described as a "free-spirited young woman in her early 20s".
A similar talent hunt carried out in Australia led to the casting of Sam Clark (Ringo Brown), who has been in Neighbours for over three years.

More: Soaps, Neighbours
Related Stories
Soap Scoop
'Doctors' fire leads to terrible dangerMore details emerge of Doctors' big summer cliffhanger.
Soaps Interviews
'Hollyoaks': Joe Tracini interviewDigital Spy chats to Joe Tracini about a big week for Dennis Savage.
Soap Ratings
Corrie: Tommy's troubles watched by 7.5mCorrie had 7.54m at 8.30pm and 258k on +1 in Thursday's ratings.
Picture of the Day
POTD: Corrie violence for TommyTommy struggles to stand up to Rick in Coronation Street tonight.






