Show boating

STEEL factory worker Ross Dixon’s singing had been confined to karaoke in clubs in the North- East. So no one was more surprised than him to find himself entertaining passengers on a Caribbean cruise liner.

The 21-year-old, from Newton Aycliffe, was one of ten showbiz hopefuls who found themselves at sea and competing to be a cruise ship entertainer in Sky One’s new talent series Show Boaters. Think the X Factor at sea.

Ross wasn’t the only talented performer from the North-East on board. Sunderland-born flight attendant Karl Mullen, 28, was another of the contestants working their passage on the cruise liner the Thomson Dream by not only performing in shows, but getting a taste of the full range of the ship’s crew’s duties during daytime tasks.

Even one of the judges, Thomson senior cruise director Stephen Guy, has a local connection – born in Berwick, he trained in performing arts at college in Newcastle.

Ross heard about Show Boaters from his singing teacher. “I’ve been training for two years and my teacher was always looking out for us, offering competitions and all the reality TV shows. She said to apply for it,” he says.

He’s been singing karaoke since he was 16. “My dad had done karaoke for a while and so did my grandad. I got up one night when I had a few beers and dad was blown away by what I was doing,” he says.

“Then I started doing local competitions and really enjoyed it, so I started taking seriously and took proper singing lessons. I’ve tried Britain’s Got Talent and a few local competitions, but never got anywhere,” he says.

He auditioned in London with several hundred other performers for Show Boaters. He had to sing two songs – one acapella, one to music – and do a dance routine “which I found quite hard because I’d never really danced before. I didn’t know I’d have to do a full dance routine”.

“The ten of us on the ship were divided into two teams and put on shows for the passengers and people got voted off each week,” he says.

“We did different tasks during the day. It wasn’t a holiday but it was an amazing experience. I hadn’t been on a cruise before and didn’t know what to expect.

“The professionals on board were our mentors, giving us hints and telling us where we were going wrong. We did mini-versions of West End shows, singing, dancing and acting at the same time. It was really good fun.

“I never thought I’d be doing something like that – I work in a steel factory making frames, but I went to places such as Barbados I never thought I’d see in my life.”

For the winner, there’s the chance to join the entertainment team on board the Thomson Dream this winter, but whatever happens Ross intends to carry on with singing.

“That’s what I want to do and I’ll continue doing until I get what I want. It’s what I love doing,” says Ross, who likes soul and swing music, naming Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble among his favourites.

FOR cabin crew member Karl Mullen, the contest meant swapping planes for ships. He always sung and acted. He’s done stage and amateur productions, but “lost my direction” and took a break for six or seven years.

He’s also fought a continual battle with his weight and at one point lost ten stone in a bid to get into stage school. Personal problems led to him putting his weight back on – then, last year, he was determined to lose weight and return to singing.

“I came across the ad for Show Boaters online and thought I’ve nothing to lose and perhaps everything to gain. I’d already done X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Fame Academy... you name it,” he explains.

Performing has always been a passion. “I was really badly bullied at school because of my weight and the way to get away from that was to get in the school drama group and amateur dramatic group. That gave me a social life and confidence,” he says.

He lost weight for Show Boaters. “When you have a weight problem that switch has to flick in you to do something about it – and I thought when I was going through the audition process that I’d like to lose weight “When I was accepted for the ship, I started training. I thought I need to lose this weight again. I was 18st on the ship and now 14st. I did it through healthy meals and exercise.

“It’s been a slow process, but I enjoy going shopping now. I can go and pick up 32 or 34in waist jeans rather than 38 or 40. I am happier now than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Life on board wasn’t all plain sailing, but for Karl “it was great to be back on stage and be working as part of a team,” he says. “It’s not like X Factor where they get up and sing a song. We were doing mini musicals.

I’m not going to lie, it was difficult at times.

“It’s great when you get forced to do something. We had to get up at five and have a boot camp workout. The trainer was very hard and relentless, but it spurs you on and makes you think I don’t want to give up.”

He’s back working as part-time cabin crew, but retains his performing ambitions. “I don’t know whether this works for or against me, but I want to try loads of things. I’ve always wanted to be in the West End and would like to try TV presenting.

I think it’s better to regret something you have done than something you haven’t done.”

JUDGE Stephen Guy has been working at sea for the past 12 years after training as an actor, specialising in musical theatre, before working as a cabaret artist and in pantomime across the country.

Directing the first two seasons aboard Thomson Dream, made him an obvious choice as a judge on the show. So, is he more Simon Cowell or Louis Walsh in his approach to being a judge? “We were all quite constructive,” he says.

“On X Factor, a lot is done for the camera and saying controversial things. We were quite respectful and because they are amateurs there was no need for vicious comments. We tried to support them.

“It was quite scary. There’s always that reluctance slightly – I didn’t go looking for fame and with a reality TV show, there’s the fear factor as how you are going to be portrayed.

“They did a lot of different challenges during the week and were very visible on board. We were very consicous not to distract from people on holiday, but to add to it and add to the spice.”