Richard Park - Headteacher/Judge
Voted most influential person in the music industry by record and radio
industry executives in 2001, Richard started his career as a radio reporter,
then turned presenter specialising in music and sport programming.
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He has been working in the music industry for 31 years.
He worked his way up to be Head of Entertainment at Radio Clyde and then
moved to become Programme Controller at Capital Radio.
He was instrumental in breaking new talent including Pete Tong, Tim Westwood
and Neil Fox.
He was responsible for hiring Chris Tarrant as Breakfast DJ on Capital
which became one of the most successful breakfast shows in the UK.
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In March 2001, after 14 years with Capital, he resigned to set up his own consultancy company, Park Management.
In 1996 Richard had the idea to form Wildstar Records, uniting Capital
and Telstar Records. As Director he has been responsible for signing Craig
David.
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In 2003 he set up Park Records, a joint venture with Universal Music.
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He is also Radio Consultant for Emap, working on Magic and Big City networks.
Lesley Garrett - Judge
Lesley is widely known as Britain's most popular soprano and a multi-award winning
artist - and mostly recently for her dance moves in Ö÷²¥´óÐã ONE's Strictly Come Dancing.
Her TV credits include The Lesley Garrett Show, Lesley Garrett… Tonight,
Jobs For The Girls, Viva La Diva, The Lily Savage Show, The South Bank
Show, Sacred Songs, Lesley Garrett - Desert Dreams, The Little Prince
and Who Do You Think You Are?
Lesley joined the English National Opera in 1984 and is now a member
of the Board of Directors.
She has sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics
and Mick Hucknall.
Her autobiography, Notes From A Small Soprano, was published in 2000.
She joined Classic FM as a weekly presenter with her own show on Sunday
afternoons in 2003.
Lesley was born in Yorkshire. She was awarded a CBE in 2002.
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