For hopefuls on the road to singing stardom it was a day of happiness and heartbreak in equal measures as the first shortlist for a fly-on-the-wall music documentary was revealed yesterday.

Television producers announced the names of 16 singers, invited back to the next round of auditions to create a choir for a reality television show, on a noticeboard at Oxford's Blackbird Leys Community Centre, as a crowd of nervous hopefuls gathered.

More are expected to try their luck at auditions tomorrow and an extra day on Friday before 40 singers from the estate are selected to perform at London's Royal Albert Hall for a Channel Five fly-on-the-wall documentary.

Potential stars had only 10 minutes to impress judge and musical director of the New London Soloists Orchestra, Ivor Setterfield, at the community centre on Sunday. Former reggae singer Kenneth Churchill, 65, of Dunnock Way, was one of the lucky ones to make the cut.

He said: "I like singing. I feel I got a result, the boat come in and the eagle has landed, you might say.

"I don't know what they're looking for, but Ivor is a fair man and I've got plenty of more songs I want to sing to him."

Among the happy hopefuls were Mackenzie-Rae Baker, 18, from Gala Bingo, shopworker Wayne St Clair, 34, of Blacksmith Meadow, Jeremy Renals, 42, of Fry's Hill, and Lissiea Davidson, 40, of Haldane Road.

Finalist Deidre Thomson, of Shepherd's Hill, said: "I'm really surprised to see my name on the list, but really happy and looking forward to having another crack at it.

"The next time round cannot be as scary as this -- this is the best thing that's happened to me for ages."

One of the oldest hopefuls, Eric Hall, 71, of Fry's Court, was also looking forward to the next round.

He said: "I saw my name about number 16 on the list and I was really happy. Next time I'll just go in and give it 100 per cent again."

But for some candidates the gruelling auditions and a nervous night's sleep only led to disappointment. Shopworker Ian East, 50, of Primrose Place did not make the cut. He said: "I tried, it's not happened and good luck to everyone else.

"When I went for the audition I was very nervous, but I'm not disappointed. I'm not looking for a singing career.

"I'll still sing at karaoke, at home or work, but there's some good singers in Blackbird Leys."

Lex Francis, 25, of Kingfisher Green, also missed out. She said: "I think it was because I was so nervous. I've never really sung before.

"After this I will just carry on with my job and with what I'm doing."

The second auditions for the show, which has the working title Ivor's Choir, will be held at the community centre tomorrow from 10am. The producers have added a third day of auditions on Friday.

The final 40 singers, who will be trained for three months and sing at the Royal Albert Hall for a show to be screened in the summer, will be announced on Saturday.