A cross-party delegation of political entertainers, styling themselves Manzone, is among those hoping to raise a smile or three, as well as a few thousand euro for charity, in the second Charity You're A Star.
The "celebrity" song contest, in which well-known figures sing to raise money for charity, begins on RTÉ at the end of the month.
Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher, Fine Gael's Senator Frank Feighan, the Green Party's Dan Boyle, and Senator Michael McCarthy of the Labour Party, have been practising for weeks in preparation for their debut in the charity contest, which will run over 10 nights between July 29th and August 13th.
Last year the show, which was won by Fair City actor David Mitchell, raised over €300,000 for charity.
Independent TD Finian McGrath was runner-up.
Mr Kelleher told The Irish Times yesterday that he had never sung in public before "except late at night and among friends" but was looking forward to the challenge. "We've been practising away and have quite a few numbers in our repertoire now, though of course I could not divulge them as it would ruin the surprise."
None of the politicians will be playing an instrument so the presentation will be akin to that of a boy-band, he said, "though more like Manzone than Boyzone".
The "band" is singing to raise money for the Irish Hospice Foundation.
"There was a fair bit of humming and hawing when I was called and asked would I take part, but I decided it was a very good cause and a bit of fun.
"I'll be hoping people watch in to text us along." Viewers can vote for their favourite act each night by text
The show will be presented again by Derek Mooney, with judges Louis Walsh, Brendan O'Connor and Linda Martin.
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