New singing contest to shine a light on Torbay talent

Torbay’s talented singers and performers are being offered a helping hand on the road to success in a new competition being staged in Paignton later this month.

Entrants in the Big Bay Belt-Off can win themselves cash prizes, vouchers and a direct entry into the bay’s prestigious Stairway to the Stars talent show.

The event is the brainchild of professional singer Lizzie Stanway, who says winning the Stairway competition last year gave her the confidence to press on with her own career.

“Torbay sometimes gets an unfair reputation but I passionately believe that people here do want good things,” she said. “They just need something worth rallying behind, and that’s exactly what this competition is all about.”

The Big Bay Belt-Off will be staged on Paignton Green on July 31 as part of the week-long Paignton Festival, which also includes the bay’s biggest carnival procession.

There will be separate sections for junior and senior performers, with a wide range of prizes. A panel of judges will decide the winner, along with an audience vote.

“This is an event that celebrates what truly matters,” said Lizzie. “Local talent, community spirit and the incredible small businesses that make our bay so special.

“It’s not about money or profit - it’s about community engagement, creativity and joy. The Big Bay Belt-Off is driven by participation, not pounds – it thrives on energy, enthusiasm, and local pride.”

The programme on the day of the competition will also feature guest performances from members of the judging panel - all well-known local performers and personalities. 

Twenty-year-old Lizzie, who runs her own Elizabeth Entertainment business offering singing lessons and vocal workshops, said more than 25 local businesses had stepped in with offers of sponsorship.

She said she hoped the Belt-Off would become an annual contest, promoting local talent and local businesses.