THE contestants have been chosen and the game is set ... now it's time for Wigan Council's very own reality show to get under way.
As part of Local Democracy Week, which begins today, five of the council's elected members have volunteered to join a topical debate with one of the toughest audiences anywhere – schoolchildren!
More than a thousand young people from primary and s
econdary schools have signed up to this year's I'm A Councillor Get Me Out of Here!
The councillors will go on-line to answer questions from young people on any subject at all.
The councillors have posted their very own manifestos and biographies on the competition website. Each councillor will spend half an hour each day answering questions. At the end of each day one will be voted out, leaving an overall winner.
So, just which plucky councillors have volunteered for a virtual grilling?
Bryn councillor Gary Wilkes.
Wigan Central councillor Gareth Fairhurst.
Astley-Mosley Common's councillor, Sean Ell.
Ashton councillor Paul Tushingham.
Atherleigh councillor Susan Loudon.
Who wins? It's up to the youngsters to decide.
The site went live last week and the first councillor will be voted out later today, Monday October 13.
Local Democracy Week is an annual national event which aims to encourage more people, particularly young people, to find out more about the work of their council and elected members.
It also encourages people to take an active part in the democratic process. Other highlights of Wigan's Local Democracy Week include: one young person being chosen to become Mayor for the Day and Question Time-style debates for young people and adults. Wigan Council's Local Democracy Week organiser Simon Dale said: "We are really pleased that the councillors have volunteered for this competition.
"There will be one overall winner, voted for by young people, but the real challenge is to encourage the pupils take part and get them involved in asking questions and sharing their views.
"If we can achieve this, then everyone is a winner."
Anyone can read the councillors' full profiles and manifestos by visiting the I'm a Councillor Get Me Out Of Here website at
www.bigvote.org.ukThe full article contains 366 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
