HUNDREDS of hopefuls queued hours for the chance to take a first step to stardom.

Would-be singing sensations travelled from far afield to give judges a brief taste of their talents at the North-East auditions for the next series of the BBC's Fame Academy.

The success of last year's first series, making stars of winner David Sneddon and the other four finalists, has attracted a huge response at nationwide auditions for Fame Academy II.

Following their long wait outside the audition rooms, Saturday's starlets were given just half-a-minute to make the right impression.

All left with the familiar parting shot, "Don't ring us, we'll ring you", from the panel of three experts from the music industry.

The first optimistic young songbirds were up before the larks, arriving at the Old Assembly Rooms, in Newcastle, in the early hours of Saturday.

By the time the judges started the audition process at 9am, the queue snaked round the block from the Fenkle Street venue.

First up was Jordan Hall, from Washington, Wearside, who wisely asked sister, Louise, to queue for her, so she could remain fresh for her glory bid. Unfortunately, Jordan's cover of a Natalie Imbruglia hit did not appear to sway the judges.

Among the 600-plus wannabes following Jordan was Jo Ellis, from Durham, with fellow students from a Newcastle University/ College HND music course.

She gave a good account of herself with a 30-second snatch of a Lemon Heads cover, but was thrown when asked to sing something else.

Jo, who had not prepared a plan B, hurriedly stumbled through an Inspiral Carpets number, but left feeling she had missed her chance.

Sure enough, the phone call inviting her back for a follow-up "second hearing" yesterday, failed to arrive on Saturday evening. But Jo, who has bigger hopes of success in song-writing, put it all down to experience.

"I suppose I gave it a good try, and I was in a lot longer than some people. But, I was put on the spot a little bit when they asked me to do another song. I'll know next time. I'm not going to give up, though."

Jo's house-mate, Emma Foruria, from London, had more joy and was asked back for yesterday's reprieve hearing.

Meanwhile, the Fame Academy audition roadshow moved on to Cardiff, in the long process to whittle numbers down to the final dozen when the series hits the screens later in the year.