SURPRISE of the weekend was that Gary Barlow’s new talent quest was pretty good.

Essentially Let it Shine is no different to the other rash of shows following the same tried and tested formula of finding a rough diamond and shaping it into a sparkly shiny thing.

This time the expectations are a tad higher though - not only do they need to hold a tune, they also need to have an ability to perform on a West End stage.

All those poor, undoubtedly highly talented stage school graduates who have done their time in numerous choruses across the London theatre district must hang their heads in dismay as they see the chap who has never sung before in front of people and the one who moves caravans for a living, shuffling on to stage to audition for Gary Barlow.

Love him or hate him - he is a big deal with an artistic clout beginning to rival a number of other top theatre and music producers.

Just to sing in front of him must feel like you have hit the jackpot.

It was, then, not much of a shocker to discover said chap who moved caravans and had only ever sung for his mum, wasn’t right for the show and Gary couldn’t see him as one of the five boy band members.

Why let him audition in the first place? Those auditioning in front of the panel had surely already been through a host of previous rounds in front of producers and experts before getting the green light to try and impress Gary.

He clearly had no chance against Jason, who was brilliant.

Which you would be if you were currently moonwalking across the Thriller Live ! stage eight shows a week.

I get they were trying to give everyone a go but it was a low point in an otherwise upbeat and very inclusive first show.

They had gone for a party style atmosphere, with judges getting up and dancing with host Graham Norton and the ever-engaging Mel Giedroyc and the hopefuls chilling out backstage in a sort of grown-up common room complete with pool table.

And I particularly like the fact fellow Take Thatters Mark and Howard turned up to offer some moral support and a few words of wisdom.

Once it was finished I quickly nipped over to ITV to catch the launch of its version of the Voice.

Nothing much has changed here except if nobody turns, the rejected hopeful has to just turn around and shuffle dejectedly back to whence they came with no input or words of encouragement from the panel.

This seemed a bit cruel to me. At least, as a small consolation prize, they could get a bit of advice from those in the know.