Christy aims for the stars after singing clip shared by Dragon (From The Northern Echo)

Darlington singer becomes internet hit after TV entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne 'retweets' her YouTube clip

2:27pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Andy Walker, Chief Reporter (Darlington)

A TEENAGE musician has become an internet hit after a YouTube clip of her singing was picked up by Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne.

Christy McAllister, 14, from Darlington, has been singing and playing the guitar from a young age.

The YouTube clip, which features her singing a medley of 24 songs in just over three minutes, was viewed more than 2,000 times within 24 hours of being posted.

It received further attention after a link to it was re-tweeted by the Darlington-based entrepreneur.

Among those to have offered online support and advice are a theatre group, a public relations expert and the producers of a variety show.

Christy’s mother, Rachel, said the family have been delighted by the level of interest, which has given the teenager added impetus to keep chasing her dream of becoming a recording artist.

Watch Christy perform I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz

Mrs McAllister said: “She posted the medley clip, which she just recorded of her singing on her phone, on YouTube, then linked it to her Facebook page and it kept getting ‘likes’ and positive comments.

“I sent it to Duncan Bannatyne, who re-tweeted it, and since then we have had a lot of messages of support, which is great.”

Christy, who also plays the guitar, is a year ten student at Carmel RC College, in Darlington, where music is one of her favourite subjects.

She auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent when she was much younger and hopes to try out for singing show X-Factor when she reaches the minimum contestant age of 16.

Her efforts have inspired her 11-year-old brother, James, who is also learning to play the guitar.

Christy said: “Being a singer is all I have ever wanted to do and I would hope one day to be really successful and well-known.

“It has been that way ever since I was a baby, in family videos I was always singing and dancing.

“But obviously that is all a big dream at the moment.

“I would not really compare myself to any artist in particular, but there are lots of people I listen to, look up to and would like to be as big as.”

To listen to the teenager singing, search for Christy McAllister on YouTube.