A star in the making from Sheppey is ready the wow the nation with his singing voice on the new ITV show Starstruck.

James Lewis, from Leysdown, is to appear on our screens tonight when he will impersonate one of his favourite artists.

The 43-year-old said: "I applied for the show in October 2019. My friends thought I would be good for it.

"After the talent scouts agreed I had a great personality, they got me to put down a selection of artists. After trialling each one they said they'll get in touch.

"One month later they called to say I'd got to the trial stage and a month after that I was on the shortlist.

"Then in January 2020 I got the call to say I was on the show."

The show, hosted by Olly Murs, sees four teams of three transformed into their musical icons and battle it out for a place in the final.

The trios perform one song together before judges Sheridan Smith, Jason Manford, Beverley Knight and Adam Lambert choose one group to perform again.

The contestants then sing alone and compete against one another for a spot in the final where they can win £50,000.

Viewers will have to wait until Starstruck airs tonight to find out who James is impersonating.

The former car mechanic is currently unemployed but said the show became a good way to keep busy over lockdown.

"I lost my job two, three years ago and during lockdown there was nothing to do. This show came along and I thought this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

"It has been great seeing everyone, Olly [Murs], Sheridan [Smith], Beverly [Knight] and Jason [Manford], as wells as the whole crew.

"Everyone was very accommodating and willing to help in any way they could – if there was a problem they helped us right away."

Mr Lewis was also a contestant on X-Factor in 2012 where he made it to boot camp but his former experience didn't stop the nerves kicking in on the new show.

He said: "I was nervous as anything even during rehearsals because when it gets to your part you have to do it right. My family could tell I was nervous.

"My mum, sister and son were all in the audience and my sister and mum especially could tell I was nervous because they know how I get when I am."

James is not the first person from Kent to appear on the show.

Holly Bannis, from Gillingham, featured last week when she performed as Tina Turner, singing her classic Proud Mary.

Her group won the judges' vote, beating impersonators of acts including Rag n Bone Man, but Holly did not make the grand final.

You can watch James on Starstruck on ITV at 8.30pm today.