Sight for Wight is running a short story writing competition again this year after the success of last year’s which produced some very high quality entries. This is the third year running the competition; originally started nine years ago by patrons, RC Bridgestock, international crime writing authors.

Chris Cane, Marketing, Communications & Fundraising Manager said, ‘This is a great opportunity for budding Island writers to become published authors and there are also great prizes to be won by at least thirty talented people. We are delighted this year to announce four celebrity readers who have kindly agreed to donate their time and read the winning stories’.

* Edana Minghella – Born into the most wonderful Anglo-Italian family where music, food and wine -- and ice-cream! - were the basic stuff of life, Island favourite, Edana, has been singing forever. In the last five years she has established herself as a successful jazz performer, regularly playing to full houses in England and Italy. Festival performances include the Isle of Wight Jazz Festival and Jazz on the Meadow, in support of Courtney Pine. This is the third year Edana has been one of our celebrity readers.

* Melvyn Hayes - Melvyn is an actor who played the role of Gunner Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum. He has also worked as a voice actor in children's cartoons such as SuperTed and The Dreamstone and was a regular on the children’s television show of the 70s, The Double Deckers. Melvyn also starred in the classic film with Cliff Richard, Summer Holiday. This is Melvyn’s second year reading.

* Kate Weston - Kate was asked to join the team at GMTV presenting the Saturday morning children’s show Rise & Shine. This led to work for Sky Sports, Channel 5, ITV, Wedding TV and eventually Wave 105, where she has spent many happy years laughing her way through the Teatime and Big Drive Home shows, before moving to Rick Jackson in the Morning in January 2017. This is Kate’s first outing as a celebrity reader.

* Jo Brand - Jo is a comedian, writer and actress. Starting her entertainment career with a move from psychiatric nursing to the alternative comedy stand-up scene and early performances on Saturday Live, she went on to appear on The Brain Drain, Channel 4's Jo Brand Through the Cakehole, Getting On and various television appearances including as a regular guest on QI, Have I Got News for You and Would I Lie to You?. She is currently the presenter of The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice. In 2003, Jo was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. This is Jo’s first time reading.

The winners will be announced at a special award ceremony (Riverside Centre, Newport) on Monday 17th December – 7.00pm and also invited to join the team at Vectis Radio to be interviewed on air as well as a podcast of their story, hence the celebrity involvement.

There will be a trophy, provided by RC Bridgestock, for the Under 12’s category, who will have their story printed in the County Press and certificates for all winners; the other categories will have their stories published online.

Entry forms are available from:

Waterstones, High Street, Newport

Sight for Wight, Millbrooke House, 137 Carisbrooke Road, Newport PO30 1DD

Dress for Less, 114 St James Street, Newport PO30 5HB