Five's controller, Richard Woolfe, stated: "There's an explosion in musical performance groups and Don't Stop Believing will tap into that exciting groundswell.

Alongside the main competition, solo singers are invited to join a group to represent the United Kingdom on the American glee club circuit.

Five's head of entertainment, Donna Taberer, stated that she was "utterly thrilled" to have Emma as part of the project, deeming her the "perfect host" due to her singing, dancing and presenting experience.

Bunton commented: "Like millions of others I'm currently obsessed with musical performance groups so I am beyond excited", telling The Belfast Telegraph that she is a "huge fan" of Glee.

The show's judges are former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite, Blue member Duncan James, singer Anastacia and High School Musical choreographer Charles "Chucky" Klapow.

The Herald's Graeme Virtue commented: "If, like me, you fell for Glee despite having a desiccated black fossil where your heart should be, it was most likely because the dementedly life-affirming musical numbers were punctuated by some smart, often prickly drama.

However calculated Don't Stop Believing might be, by focusing wholly on the singin'-and-hoofin' dimension, it still risks reaching dangerous levels of non-cynicism that could irreversibly damage our national psyche in the long-term.".

Andrea Mullaney of The Scotsman deemed the series: "a predictable mash-up of the talented and deluded on their own 'journeys' being patronised and sniggered at by a judges who seem like they've just been introduced to each other 30 seconds before filming began.".