The contestants, including Extras star Shaun Williamson, Birds Of A Feather’s Linda Robson, Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray, Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon, comedienne Mel Giedroyc, sports presenter Ray Stubbs, presenter Angellica Bell, broadcaster Fred MacAulay, actress Miranda Hart, comedian Tim Vine and Heartbeat’s Tricia Penrose, will apparently be given tips on breathing and projection.

Broadcaster Roland Rivron was axed for his version of Stand By Your Man.

Joss has speech therapy for US twang? Feb 10 2007
Soul diva Joss Stone is apparently so embarrassed by her new American accent, that she’s having speech therapy to get rid of it.

The 19-year-old revealed her new Californian twang at the Brits last week and was said to be upset by the reaction she got, the Daily Star reports.

Devonshire-born Joss, who moved to Los Angeles when she was 15, is apparently worried her new American image, complete with pink hair and psychedelic dress, will affect her popularity in the UK.

A source told the paper: "Poor Joss didn’t realise her accent would spark such controversy.

"But she’s terrified that it will affect her popularity in Britain unless she gets rid of it."

Her publicist explained that Joss only spoke in the way she did because she was nervous.

"She’s lived in America since she was 15 and her accent becomes stronger when she’s nervous. But we’re working on it," he said.

Joss has reportedly booked weekly sessions with a voice coach to solve the issue before she starts promoting her third album, Introducing Joss Stone.

"It’s a confidence issue. The therapist needs to make her comfortable with her natural accent so she doesn’t nervously slip into it at public events," the insider added.

Joss makes a music promise - Jan 26 2007
Singer Joss Stone has vowed never to write a ’s**t’ album again.

The singer made the declaration before performing an exclusive gig at the Sundance Film Festival.

The 19-year-old has been away from the UK charts for a while, but now she’s back with a new album and determined to put out the material that she wants.

"I’ve been away writing," she said "and I’m not ever gonna come out with a s**t album again, I promise. I swear down.

"You know before it was just someone else’s vision and I was helping them out, which was nice and everything, but this time I got to make it."

And this time around Joss doesn’t want to define her new material as being one particular style.

"It’s difficult to describe really, and that’s a good thing, I think," she said.

"I don’t want to put it in any genre, I don’t wanna call it R&B, soul, hip hop, I don’t wanna call it anything, I just want people to listen."

Joss nags Lauryn’s mum - Dec 30 2006
It seems Joss Stone found a novel way of getting the Fugees’ Lauryn Hill to work on her new album - by phoning her mum.

The Devon teenager’s third album, Introducing Joss Stone, features several collaborations with her favourite artists including Lauryn and rapper Common.

"I called her mum every day for like a month and a half," Joss told MTV News.

"I couldn’t get a hold of [Lauryn], and there was no answer from [her camp] -- I couldn’t get a yes or a no. So I just kept calling her mother."

But her nagging tactics obviously worked as Lauryn finally agreed to contribute to the track Music, which Joss described as her love letter to song.