A talent scout from BBC's The Voice was in Isleworth yesterday to check out an open mic night, and he appeared to like what he heard.

Edd Clay visited The Red Lion pub, in Linkfield Road, last night on the hunt for acts to appear in next year's series of the talent show.

Unlike the show's celebrity judges, he didn't indicate his approval by spinning around in his chair, but he did interview nearly a dozen of the 20-odd acts performing that evening.

Paul Kirkby, who hosts the weekly open mic event, said the mucis room was packed with hopefuls, from a dreadlocked guitar maestro who got people's feet stomping to Purple Rain, to a jazz songstress with a moving version of Georgia.

"The evening was a huge success and Edd said he had a brilliant night and was going back to take stock of all the acts that impressed him," added Mr Kirkby.

"He did a short personal interview with nearly a dozen acts, which showed the potential he saw in them."

Talia Smith, of Cranford, made the televised stages of the show last year and was picked by Tom Jones but lost out in a sing-off to Sally Barker.