BBC Young Speaker
The BBC is embarking on a mission to find Britain's Best Young Speaker.
This thrilling, once in a lifetime competition will be shown on BBC 2 early in 2009.
In this epic elimination show, thousands of 14 to 18 year olds will compete in a series of challenges that could take place anywhere in the world as they are coached by celebrity mentors.
They'll need passion, personality and confidence to succeed. Week on week they'll be put through their paces to test every aspect of their communication skills. As this competition nears its nail-biting and dramatic conclusion only one competitor will win the title of Britain's Best Young Speaker.
To get involved initially applicants are invited to upload a one minute speech to The Speaker website.
The closing date for applications is August 1st 2008
About the show
In this epic elimination show, thousands of 14 to 18 year olds will compete in a series of challenges. They'll need passion, personality and confidence. Week on week they'll be put through their paces to test every aspect of their communication skills. Eventually one of them will become Britain's Best Young Speaker.
The Competition Starts Here
14-18 year olds are invited to apply online, by posting a one minute speech on The Speaker website. They can speak on any subject from pop music to politics or hoodies to homework.
From the thousands of online entries our judges will select approximately 300. They will be invited to the next stage of the competition with auditions held at regional centres all over the UK.
And now the pressure is on. The competitors have to deliver their one minute speech again, but this time it's with a Judging Panel sitting in front of them. And they'll be watched by a huge and expectant audience.
The competitors will need to keep their cool. Only 20 will be selected by the judges to go through to the next stage.
The Team Debate
The Semi-Finalists will be split into four debating teams. They'll have to work together and argue for and against, on subjects that test their powers of persuasion.
Only the 8 highest scoring contestants will progress from here to the final stages of the competition.
The Top Eight
Over four weeks, the final 8 will be helped by celebrity mentors. The finalists will be set challenges that will see them learn new skills and put into practice everything they've learnt so far. The locations for these challenges could be anywhere in the world as this competition nears its nail-biting and dramatic conclusion.
One contestant will be eliminated each week. By the final, only four will remain.
The Final!
The final four will face their biggest challenge yet. They will be asked to push themselves even further as they compete to win the title!
They'll have to draw on every piece of advice and experience that they have learnt so far. This is the last chance to deliver the speech of their lives.
And as the judges give their final verdict, the question on everyone's lips is... Who will become Britain's Best Young Speaker?
