Tim's TV opera role

Tim Crouch, who sings with Heber Opera as an amateur, reached the closing stages of the competition, winning through to the final 20 contestants.

Three other Sussex residents also made the last twenty: Debbie Bridge, a singing teacher from Hove, George Ikediashi, a law student from Sussex University, and Ted Jackson, a builder, from Rudgewick, West Sussex.

Operatunity is shown on Channel 4 on Tuesday evenings throughout February. It shows the adventures of 100 aspiring opera stars, chosen from the 2,500 who applied, as they compete for the chance to win training with the English National Opera Company and to appear in a live and televised production of Rigoletto on the stage of the London Coliseum.

'It was an incredibly interesting experience,' said tenor Tim. 'I learnt things I'd never even thought of before, that helped me to develop expression in my singing and acting.' Tim, who was educated at Lewes Priory and Lewes Tertiary College, initially performed Maria from West Side Story as his solo.

He found the audition 'quite daunting' and the panel of judges 'as terrifying as the Gestapo'. Tim found their suggestions very helpful, however: 'Mary King, the English National's voice coach, told me to vary the tone and expression of the opening phrase, where Mariais constantly repeated.'

After several days of intensive coaching in London, the final 20 were tested at the London Coliseum. Each had been allocated a specific aria Tim's was Lensky's aria from Eugene Onegin. Six contestants were selected to continue in the competition, but Tim was not one of them nor were the other Sussex residents.

Tim works for Nexus, the educational suppliers, and sings as a hobby. He could turn professional as a result of his Operatunity experience.

Debbie has turned professional since the programme. 'The coaches were great to work with and it was a good experience,' she said. Ted is taking professional engagements and George is also beginning a professional career.