Coleraine singer through to All Ireland Talent Show live programme

Mark was chosen by mentor Dana to represent the North in the talent show and he will appear in a live show this Sunday (January 17) on RTE 1 at 6.30pm.

Presented by Grinne Seoige the programme features a panel of five judges - Boyzone star and Dublin-born Shane Lynch (Dublin), RT television presenter Blthnaid N Chofaigh (The East), Galway resident and weatherman Dith S (The West), Eurovision-winning ex-MEP and Derry-native, Dana (The North), and Cork's own hugely popular RT Radio broadcaster , John Creedon (The South).

Mark, and a group of local supporters, will be travelling to Dublin this weekend for the live show which is broadcast from RTE studios in Bray.

Well-known to local audiences for his roles in Portrush Music Society and Ballywillan Drama Group shows, performing with the Mark Adamson Big Band as well as pantomimes in the Millennium Forum and the Grand Opera House, this has been a busy month for Mark.

As well as rehearsing for his big live appearance on Sunday, he has been appearing as Prince Charming in the Waterfont Hall’s pantomime Cinderella which just finished on Saturday.

“It’s been all go as I only just finished the pantomime but I will travel down to Dublin on Friday when we will spend the day rehearsing in a Performing Arts School,” said Mark.

“There will be a choreographer putting us through our paces, making sure everything is presented properly and we will be working with the music tracks.

“Then on Saturday we will be rehearsing all day in the RTE studios to get used which camera to look into. That’s when my mentor Dana will come along and she will have some input into my performance.

“While Dana did not chose my song for me, I had to submit her a list of songs and which one was my particular choice. Luckily she liked the one I chose.”

But you will have to wait until Sunday to hear exactly which song Mark chooses to do battle for the North.

“I just hope people will watch the show because so many people don’t realise that they can pick up RTE on Sky,” he said.

“A few years ago I got though the finals of You’re a Star in RTE but people from the north weren’t able to vote for me so this time with The All-Ireland Talent Show it’s different as there is a dedicated phone number for the North and a text number too.”

Mark will be up against four other acts all hoping to make it though to the semi-final.

The contestant who gets the highest mark - made up of public votes and judges’ votes - will go directly through to the semi-final but there’s still hope for the acts placed second and third as they could be voted through to a wildcard round.

While Mark is busy in Dublin rehearsing for the live show, his family and friends are busy putting up posters in the Triangle area in a bid to drum up support for the popular local singer.

“I also have a lot of friends in the industry who are helping me out which is fantastic,” said Mark.