Eva Mason

AS the X-Factor contestants were battling it out on TV on Saturday, talented 10-year-old Eva Mason from Gorefield won the final of the Search for a Star contest at the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton.

Eva Mason

Eva - a pupil at Gorefield Primary School - was awarded the top prize of £500, and will get the chance to perform for holiday makers at Searles Holiday Park in Hunstanton.

Mum Katrina said: “We are so proud of her. She absolutely owned the stage during the final, it was lovely to watch. She won over both the audience and the judges with her performance.”

Eva’s 10-minute act included singing, dancing, playing the piano and telling jokes. “She has an innate comic timing,” said Katrina, who teaches singing and piano. “She wants to be a singer songwriter one day and appear in musicals, she is already writing her own music.” Eva’s dad Phill teaches guitar and drums, and her parents sing in a band.

Eva was up against nine other contestants in the final, and sang Price Tag by Jessie J, Maybe from the musical Annie, and Don’t Rain On My Parade from the musical Funny Girl.

Eva Mason

Contest judge Simon Rowe described Eva’s performance: “She owned the stage the moment she walked on, telling jokes with the confidence of someone four times older, the presence of a pro, and the voice of an angel. Not only did she work the crowd, she owned their hearts too.”

Katrina added: “Eva would have loved to audition for the West End performance of Matilda, but unfortunately she was half an inch too tall. She is a great fan of comedians Tim Vine and Alan Partridge, she just loves to perform.”

Eva has not yet decided how she will spend her prize money. “I think she will buy something special to remind her of her success,” added Katrina.