The standard was high, but there can only be one winner. That was the verdict of the judges of the Evening Post's News Idol competition.
People from all over Lancashire attended auditions at Preston Guild Hall earlier this week to win the chance to become a newsreader for the day on the Evening Post's new website, lep.co.uk
Each had just 10 minutes to read and prepare a script before facing the camera crew for the first time.
The tough task of selecting the overall winner was given to Coun Bill Tyson, Mayor of Preston, and Evening Post editor Simon Reynolds.
The editor said: "The standard was so high. Considering that the people who took part had only minutes to prepare, they were amazing."
The judging was so difficult that five finalists have been selected.
As well as a the overall winner, the four runners-up will also have the chance to read the news for LEP TV during the week of our new website launch later this month. The overall winner will also receive a tour of the newsroom, and a commemorative DVD of their day.
Check out Tuesday's edition of the Evening Post to find out who is crowned the winner of News Idol.Watch the auditions of the five finalists. Click through for video.Nazia MograRachel MurrayAdrian WardJodie KingBeatrice Asare-DjanPreston City Council