THE first series of Ireland’s Got Talent was won by Midleton dance group RDC last year — and the second series of the show starts tomorrow, with Cork acts again to the fore.

Bandon singer Lee O’Donovan, aged 22, and Cork performer Caroline Bailey, aged 30, are among the hopefuls auditioning in the first episode when the hugely successful show returns on Virgin Media 1 at 7.30pm.

Lee cites Paulo Nutini as one of his influences and comes from a musical family, while Caroline is one half of the group Sparkle, alongside Jennifer Bowler, aged 32, from Kerry. The duo have performed to 16,000 at Dublin Pride and also at Electric Picnic.

In the auditions, the hopefuls try to impress the judges, Jason Byrne, Louis Walsh, Denise Van Outen and Michelle Visage.

The winners of the show will follow in the footsteps of RDC, and collect a €50,000 prize and a Christmas TV slot on Virgin Media later this year.

Other acts auditioning in the first episode this weekend include a Donald Trump impersonator from Kerry — 72-year-old Donald Trumpet — along with an all-female choir of cancer survivors and supporters from Wicklow, and six-times All-Ireland winning Irish dancer, Jake O’Shea.