Following a massive nationwide search across Britain for unsigned talent who write and perform their own material, Channel 4’s Orange unsignedAct with Sony Ericsson is set to return for its second series, premiering on 30th October on the new 4Music channel and 2nd November on Channel 4’s youth and music zone, T4. In addition to featuring bands, the competition has been opened up to include singer-songwriters. The show will go out weekly and run into January 2009 with a total of 12 x 60 minute shows that have been produced by Princess Productions.

Orange unsignedAct with Sony Ericsson will showcase the best untapped artists and bands from the UK’s unsigned music scene. Whether they are rock, indie or hip-hop, the artists who appear on the show will be mentored and nurtured by some of the best experts in the music industry. However one thing is for sure, they’ll have to prove they have what it takes to be the next best thing as the show will culminate in the winning act receiving a recording contract with Universal Records.

The second series of Orange unsignedAct with Sony Ericsson will be hosted by Alex Zane, who will oversee an acclaimed panel of judges who have been enlisted to find Britain’s most talented unsigned band or singer songwriter. Returning from the first series are the three original judges, consisting of TV and radio presenter and champion of new music Jo Whiley; famed musician and songwriter Alex James from Blur and head of A & M Records Simon Gavin. Strengthening the panel for the new series is TV presenter and all round music aficionado Lauren Laverne who started her career fronting her own band, Kenickie. Throughout the series there will also be a number of guest judges who will join the panel to impart their specialist wisdom.

Last year over 1,700 bands entered the competition in the hope of winning a recording contract and taking the first step towards releasing their debut album. This year there have been over 7,000 entries, showing what a vast and untapped wealth of talent there is across the UK.

From the thousands of entries, the first selection process has already been completed. Following a public vote via the web and a rigorous selection by an editorial team (made up by Channel 4, Princess Productions and Universal’s A&R department), 50 acts have been chosen and invited to the filmed auditions. It’s at this stage the series kicks off on Channel 4 and 4Music as the selected bands and artists who made the cut are introduced to the viewers. However from this fifty, only eight bands will be selected to embark on a nation-wide tour, performing gigs around the country to raise support from the public and win the backing of the judges.

Alex Zane said “I can’t wait to get started. Last year the quality of the bands was good, but having heard some of the entries this year we’re in for a fantastic series!”

Lauren Laverne said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in Orange unsignedAct with Sony Ericsson as the first series was truly groundbreaking. What makes the show unique is that it searches and supports real music, so I can’t wait to join the judging panel and uncover some of the great unsigned acts from across the UK”