Family and friends back Luanne in her bid to win singing contest final

IT’S fingers crossed for Luanne Hoare from Sidford, when she competes in a talent contest on Saturday.

Luanne, 16, a student at The King’s School, Ottery St Mary, will be cheered on by family and friends when she competes against 17 others in the singing finals of Talent South West, run by Lifestyle Events Ltd.

From Sidford Road, Luanne was encouraged to enter the contest in Exeter by her singing teacher Fran.

She said: “I’ve been singing since I was young. I watched musicals. My favourite was Annie and I used to sing The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow all the time.

“When I was 11 I sang at my cousin’s funeral in front of 500 people. I sing in the shower and around the house. I was in Funky Feet and sang Someone Like You with them in their dance show this year.”

In the middle of her A level studies, Luanne has put guitar lessons on hold and her dancing, but will take part in tomorrow (Friday’s) Funky Feet and Friends performance for Sunshine in November at Manor Pavilion Theatre in aid of Children’s Hospice South West.

“I would love to sing as a career,” said Luanne, whose boyfriend Sam Bateman will take her to next year’s X Factor auditions in Cardiff.

In the meantime she is focused on doing her best at the talent finals at Exeter Racecourse, when she will perform Emeli Sande’s Heaven.

*You can see Luanne’s other Talent SW performances on You Tube.