Budding popstar Leanne Lawson has penned a potential hit with Celebrity Big Brother's Ben Adams as she gears up for her biggest year yet.

The 18-year-old, of Ormonde Street, High Barnes, Sunderland, has seen her singing career soar after winning Sunderland's No.1 competition in 2003 – Wearside's answer to The X Factor.

Appearances on Stars in Their Eyes, national TV and radio and a tour with Australian band August Way soon followed.

Now Leanne, who has taken the stage name Leila, has teamed up with the former A1 star to write the single Cold Empty World.

Leanne's manager, Samantha Crompton from Excellence Records, said: "When I first started working with Leanne she didn't necessarily have the right material.

"We were looking for someone who could give her more musical direction and an opportunity came up to audition for a girl band that Ben manages.

"She didn't get into the band, but Ben said he really liked her voice and would like to work with her."

The former Grindon Hall Christian School pupil travelled to London at the end of last year to write with Ben, who scored 10 top 10 hits with A1, at his Battersea Park studios.

Samantha said: "Obviously Ben is in the Big Brother house at the minute, but if he relaunches his career when he comes out I would love for Leanne to have the opportunity to perform with him.

"He has suggested we record some more singles before we decide which one to release. It takes a lot of planning and is all about timing."

In the meantime, Leanne has gigs at the high-profile Cafe de Paris in London and potentially a mini tour to look forward to.

The teenager says she is more than happy with the way her career is progressing.

She said:"It was absolutely fantastic working with Ben and I can't thank him enough. I used to listen to A1 when I was younger so it was unreal working with him.

"I was holding his Brit Award, thinking I would love to win one of these. He's been helping me and is really inspiring.

"A lot is going to happen this year, which I am excited about."

Leanne, who has sung at gigs across the region, is also reeling from the success of her myspace page – www.myspace.com/iamleannelawson
The page has had thousands of hits, with people logging on to find out more about Leanne and hear her music.

Proud dad Paul, 41, said: "We were always told before Leanne entered into this that it was going to be a long road, but now we can see a light at the end of the tunnel and a potential career."





The full article contains 460 words and appears in Sunderland Echo newspaper.