CORONATION Street star Rupert Hill is celebrating after his fledgling rock band, Shepherd's Pi, reached the final of a national competition.

The band have made it to the last 10 of the Undiscovered Talent Search, sponsored by O2 and record label Polydor. If they win, they will record a track and perform live at a major summer festival.

But, despite Rupert being a household name, as Jamie Baldwin on Corrie four nights a week, it appears the fact somehow passed by the judging panel.

Delighted

Rupert said: "We're obviously delighted that we made the top 10 out of 6,000 in the `undiscovered' competition. I'm a bit worried that they don't know about my day job, but I'm very pleased that we were selected without that coming into it!"

There's now just one problem for the band - they hate their own name.

"We've been trying to think of another name, but the trouble is when you have a name for over two years it sticks," said Rupert. "I'm not sure if we'll keep it; it's a nightmare."

The band is something of a TV love-in, as it's made up of Rupert on guitar and vocals, his actress girlfriend Angela Hazeldine on guitar, and fellow actor Sam Stockman, also on vocals.

The three have just been joined by a new drummer, Clare, whom Rupert met at work - she's a camera assistant on Coronation Street.

The band are now gearing up for a live gig in Manchester - at The Late Room in Peter Street on April 29 - and Rupert says a host of his Corrie mates are planning to come along.