WINCHESTER’S Charlie Steggall, 12, is now just one step away from reaching the finals of a national
singing competition to find the music stars of tomorrow.

Charlie, from Fulflood, was chosen at the regional final of the TeenStar competition in Reading to progress to the penultimate stage of the contest. Singing in front of a live crowd, he impressed with his version of the Bruno Mars hit, Grenade.

He’ is going head to head today with acts from as far afield as Sussex and Cornwall in one of five area
finals across the country.

At stake is the chance to perform in the national final at the NEC in Birmingham in July — and
prize money of £5,000.

Charlie, a pupil at the Westgate School, is aiming to follow in the footsteps of X Factor finalist, Luke Friend, who won last year’s TeenStar competition.

“It’s great to have got this far and I’d love to make it to the final,” said Charlie, son of sports broadcaster, Andy Steggall and ITV Meridian’s social affairs correspondent, Christine Alsford.

“I know the competition will be really tough, but I will give it my best shot.”

Eight thousand hopefuls enter the competition in a variety of age groups. Tickets for the Southern Area Final at Ferneham Hall, Fareham, at 12.15pm on May 10 are £10.