My workmates have never watched me sing so seeing meon prime-timeTV maycomeas a surprise Karaoke queen ready to stun colleagues in telly talent show bid
IMMIGRATION officer Laura Baird reckons her workmates will be surprised to see her sing this Saturday on the new series of All Together Now.
The 30-year-old has been leading a double life.
She said: “I enjoy my job but singing is my true passion – it’s when I really feel like myself.
“Since I was a teenager, I’ve worked really hard to get where I am, performing as much I am.
“It’s like I have two different lives.
“Some of my colleagues know I sing but they’ve never seen me perform – and I’ve never sung at work, so seeing me on All Together Now may come as a bit of a surprise to them.
“My work is quite serious. I work for the Immigration Service. I’ve been there about five years.
“I’ve learnt not to mention it in social settings, as it it’s the kind of job everyone has an opinion on.”
Laura’s life will change on Saturday as she’s one of the highlights in the first episode of the second series, where hopefuls sing in front of the 100 – a panel of music experts and singers from across the UK, led by Spice Girl Geri Horner. The show is hosted by Rob Beckett.
If any of them like the performance, they stand up and sing along. The more of the 100 who join in, the higher the score. At the end of the series, one act will walk away with £50,000.
Last year’s winner Michael Rice has just been chosen to represent the UK at Eurovision this year.
Laura, from Glasgow, who performs as Laura B, works as the karaoke presenter at the famous Horseshoe Bar in the city.
She said: “I’ll definitely be watching the show with my friends and family hopefully in the Horseshoe Bar so we can all enjoy it together. “I’m sure there will be plenty of banter from my mates, even for a good while afterwards.” Laura began singing when she was 14 and battled shyness to start singing in public. But she has showbiz in her blood. She
said: “My uncle, David, was a well-known folk singer back in the 60s and 70s.
“He performed with a band called the Spinners and a famous Scottish folk singer called Hamish Imlach. He also released an album, all before my time, but my dad has told me his history. My dad, Ronnie, sings in various pubs outside Glasgow.”
Laura was contacted by All Together Now after they saw videos of her singing online. But singing live every week didn’t help her with nerves doing her first ever reality show.
The premise of All Together Now sees the three best singers competing in a sing-off, with the winner going on to the final and the chance of the prize.
The Scot won’t say how she does on the show but added: “I loved the experience and would do it all over again.
“I did feel nervous as it was my first TV appearance but I just tried to stay focused and enjoy myself at the same time.”
She was thrilled to meet Geri, and laughed: “When I was young I was a Spice Girls fan.
“I had their albums and enjoyed their music as a child. Geri gave me some really nice comments about my performance which I was really happy about.”
● The new series of All Together Now, starts on Saturday at 7.30pm, on BBC1.