A LUCKY pop star wannabe was today being chosen to join Hear'Say following the final audition to find a replacement for Kym Marsh.

Between 50 and 100 hopefuls have been selected to take part in tests with voice coaches, choreographers and musicians, and interviews with the band members -- who include Bury's Suzanne Shaw -- to see how they get along. Managers of Hear'Say, which was formed through a series of heats on ITV's Popstars, want a new member who can fit in with the band's established image, as well as sing. During the first round of auditions yesterday, thousands of hopefuls had their dreams dashed when they were turned away for a place before they had even sung a note. Of the 3,000 who queued in the cold and rain, five-sixths were rejected by bosses at the doors of the Brixton Rehearsal Studios in south London purely because of their appearance.

A sign on the gates said: "The first round auditions are based on a pre-defined look, therefore a vocal audition is not guaranteed."