BILLED as boasting the sexiest judging panel in talent show history, an ambitious talent show pioneered by a Radcliffe man is premiering tonight at Bolton’s Albert Halls.

PR worker and event organiser Paul Alistair, aged 30, of Bolton Road, said he is intent on bringing fun and variety back to talent shows tonight for Is This Talent?

Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan, Radcliffe model Rhian Sugden and Mr Alistair will make up the judging panel alongside model and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Georgia Salpa.

Mr Alistair said: “I am thrilled and delighted to be bringing my new TV talent show to Bolton.

“I hope people come and support it and see the amazing new talent we have found.

“This could be the next big TV programme so the people of Bolton could be involved in a bit of history as well as having a great night out.”

Mr Alistair, who has also worked in sales management and events, says Is This Talent? will showcase seven “amazing” new acts.

He added: “Is This Talent? is a new twist to a tired format - it is going to revitalise and reinvigorate the genre.

“It will not only be funnier and sexier, it will also have a feel-good factor to it and will be the showcase of all talents in Britain.

“Almost all talent shows are singing and dancing competitions.

“I remember when there was variation on TV, in the early 80s, and not everything followed trends. All tastes were tailored for.

“There will be some singing and dancing acts involved, and they have got their place of course, but we wanted a more risqué, boundary-stretching talent show.

“I don’t want to give the game away too much with details, but needless to say the acts will not be typical of talent shows.

“They reckon this could be a hit show like that was, so all the people that come along might end up being on the box.”

Mr Alistair also promises the acts will be judged on their talent alone and not “sob stories”.

They will have three minutes without beeps, buzzers or interruptions, to entertain the celebrity judges and the live audience.

The live theatre production will also act as the pilot for a TV show, with the night being filmed by Acrobat Productions, who were behind The Hit Man and Her, a late-night show based in nightclubs.

A possible TV series would be self-contained, with a weekly winner rather than a grand final, while the panel of judges would be frequently changed.

With experience in stand-up comedy and radio script-writing, Mr Alistair has been working on the project for more than a year.

The show starts at 8pm tonight.

Follow our reporter @vickiescullard on Twitter for live updates from the show tonight.