Category: TV Entertainment; 91Èȱ¬ ONE
Date: 26.08.2006
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Meliz Serman, 23, from Chingford, London, was voted out by the viewers in tonight's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, hosted by Graham Norton on 91Èȱ¬ ONE.
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Tonight the eight Maria finalists again auditioned live for the nation with songs ranging from Big Spender to Girls Just Want To Have Fun.
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After performing their songs and hearing the feedback from Andrew Lloyd Webber - and the expert panel of David Ian, Zoe Tyler and John Barrowman - the viewers cast their votes.
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The two with the lowest votes were Meliz and Helena who had to sing for survival with a joint rendition of Take That Look Off Your Face.
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Then it was up to the Lord of the Theatre alone to choose which Maria should be saved for another week.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "Meliz, you're more of a rock star or a pop star than a theatre star... Give me a second while I weigh this up... It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to Meliz and save Helena."
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Helena will sing again next week, and Meliz was left to say goodbye.
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She joined the other Marias in a rendition of So long, farewell from The Sound of Music before taking her final bow.
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Meliz said after the show: "I'm extremely sad about leaving this experience, I was so lucky to be a part of it.
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"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it will make the sadness of tonight something really positive for the future."
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Her parting message to the Marias was: "Keep smiling, always believe in yourself. I'm going to miss you all so much."
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At the end of tonight's show Graham Norton also dropped a bombshell for the remaining Marias - next week it will be not one, but two Marias who will have their dreams for a leading lady role in a West End musical shattered.
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Safe for another week were Leanne, Aiofe, Abi, Siobhan, Connie, Simona and Helena - these hopefuls will go on to next week's show where they will again audition for the nation to decide who could be Maria in the The Sound of Music.
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Also performing this evening was Jamelia with her new single Something About You.
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Notes to Editors
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Individual songs this evening were:
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Leanne Dobinson (Baby Maria) - 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton)
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Aoife Mulholland (Irish Maria) - Sway (Pussycat Dolls)
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Abi Finley (Tomboy Maria) - Big Spender (Shirley Bassey)
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Siobhan Dillon (Second Chance Maria) - Jump (Girls Aloud)
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Connie Fisher (Showbiz Maria) - My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone)
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Simona Armstrong (Romanian Maria) - I Only Want To Be With You (Dusty Springfield)
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Helena Blackman (Entertainer Maria) - What A Feeling (Irene Cara from Flashdance)
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Meliz Serman (Sexy Maria) - Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
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Group songs tonight were The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music and Don't Stop Me Now by Queen, plus the usual So Long, Farewell as they say goodbye to the ousted Maria.
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EP
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