Comment

YEAR OF NOTE: Singer Rachel Scott from Osmington

TELEVISION glory beckons for a Weymouth performer.

Singer Rachel Scott, who appeared on the X Factor two years ago, is having a year in her life catalogued by a cable television channel.

Red TV, which you can access on Sky channel 186, is sending a two-man camera crew to on a monthly basis to follow her professional and public life. Her adventures will be screened later this year.

"They will be coming down here every month and then coming down to film the talent showcase I'm holding in April," explained Rachel, 22, who lives at her family home in Osmington.

"If I hadn't already done X Factor, I think I'd be nervous but now I feel quite comfortable around the media. On the first day they were here we went around Weymouth to the places I started out and to some of the shops in town. It was great fun and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and for all the help and support everyone has given me."

She added: "As well as being great fun to do and great for me, the filming is a great opportunity to show the delights of Weymouth and Dorchester to the wider world."

Rachel studied at All Saints School in Wyke Regis and then at Weymouth College before making music her profession.

After being taught by Eddie Hintze - who is currently riding high as Elton John on the BBC's tribute talent show The One and Only - she branched out and started singing at Weymouth Pavilion, helping celebrate the Millennium.

She also hosted the weekly Wednesday Night Live slot, which ran at the theatre during the summer months.

Rachel who now performs regularly at home and further afield, released the internet album Ain't No Lady last July and has a second disc, Blow, due for release online in April.

She has a fully equipped recording studio at home complete with en suite facilities and mauve walls (I'd go mad if they were just painted plain grey!') which she also makes available to local bands for £15 an hour.

"I have been very lucky and it's lovely to be able to share my luck," she said. "A lot of new bands can't afford to use some recording facilities, so if I can help them, that's great.

"When I'm writing I aim for the talent of people like Carole King or Guy Chambers, who writes with Robbie Williams," said Rachel.

"When I'm performing I think of Robbie Williams because he brings something to the stage that is pure magic but I also love Gwen Stefani. She is the queen - simply brilliant."

One of Rachel's most important roles is that of regional representative for SABA, an arts charity which aims to promote and develop unsigned and unknown artists.

In her role, Rachel organises and runs talent showcases in Osmington village hall near Weymouth - the next one is on Sunday, April 13 at 2pm.

The shows are run by Rachel and her family but are judged by members of the entertainment industry. The winners are invited to go on to the next round of talent shows until, hopefully, they get to perform at the grand finale in London.

"What's so great about SABA is that the judges know what they are talking about," said Rachel. "They don't mark down the contestants on what they wear or how they look."