ITV viewers have slammed the new singing competition Starstruck as many compared it unfavourably to 90s talent show Stars in Their Eyes this evening.
The brand new ITV singing competition, presented by Olly Murs, debuted this evening following The Masked Singer finale.
Singer Adam Lambert sits on the judging panel alongside actress Sheridan Smith, comedian Jason Manford and recording artist Beverly Knight.
The show sees contestants become extraordinary stars for one night only as the judges size up their star power.
The performers undergo an “extraordinary transformation” to embody their idols, with the contestant transformations on the first episode ranging from Freddie Mercury and Marvin Gaye to Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga.
But the show is being likened to 90s show Stars In Their Eyes, which premiered in 1990 and was on the air until December 2006.
ITV viewers took to Twitter to call for the original Stars in Their Eyes to return to screens, as opposed to the “rip off” version.
One wrote: “If I had created Stars in their Eyes I'd be suing #Starstruck for robbing all the good ideas.”
Another viewer said: “Okay I’m gonna try #Starstruck but to be honest I’ve no idea why they couldn’t have just brought Stars In Their Eyes back”
A third wrote: “Wish we could have just had regular Stars in their Eyes back instead of this tbh. Why does everything need a judging panel nowadays!?”
Another tweeted: “I'd rather have Stars In Their Eyes back instead of this Wish version with unnecessary gimmicks #Starstruck”
A fellow viewer wrote: “Isn’t this just a BTEC version of Stars in Their Eyes?!”
Another social media user wrote: “I see Stars in their Eyes is back on @ITV. No new ideas as usual, the same as Hollywood! #Starstruck,” while another posted: “What is this poor attempt at Stars in their eyes #Starstruck”
ITV said of Starstruck ahead of its debut: “Leaving their day jobs behind, members of the public will be transformed into their most beloved music star for one night only. But they won’t be on stage alone.
“Instead, they’ll be teaming up as trios who all share the same love of a music icon to give the performance of a lifetime.
“With an expert glam team to oversee their extraordinary transformation, impressive staging and a spectacular sound and light show, our singing stars will be getting the complete ‘superstar experience.’
The end of each Starstruck episode will see the winning trio compete against each other for a place in the grand final, to enter into the running for a £50,000 jackpot.
