Eighties pop idol David Van Day hopes to resurrect his career by flying the flag for Britain in a reality TV show.

Brighton-born David and singing partner Thereza Bazar will leave for America this weekend to film the new ITV1 show Reborn In The USA.

They will be competing with eight other once-successful singers eager to emulate reality show winners such as Will Young and Tony Blackburn.

The contenders, including Sonia, Gina G and ex-Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley, will perform in seven US states.

The American audiences will vote for their favourites and the lowest-scoring singers will then be put to a phone vote among British viewers to choose who will be eliminated each week.

The eventual winner will be flown back to England on Concorde and given a contract with Universal Records.

David and Thereza, as Dollar, had 14 Top 40 hits in the Eighties, including Love's Gotta Hold Of Me and Give Me Back My Heart.

But David's career plummeted when the duo split and he was convicted for cocaine possession in 1988.

In recent years David has been running a fast food stall in Brighton city centre.

He said: "If it's a choice between selling burgers and selling records, I'd choose records any day.

"Looking at the other people taking part, this is the Grand National of pop. I'm not so arrogant to think I'm going to win but who knows what will happen?

"I'll be pleased just to have a few weeks' working holiday - I'll enjoy singing, which I love, and generally having a laugh and probably making a fool of myself."

The tour will start in New Orleans and finish in New York.

The ten participants will be staying together and will be filmed constantly.

Each week's loser will not discover their fate until they are about to step on stage at the next venue.

David said: "That guarantees me at least two weeks out there. It would be nice to get past just one show."

He sees 57-year-old Elkie Brooks as one of the favourites to win but also predicted Tony Hadley to pick up votes as "the housewife's choice".

David was a keen viewer of previous reality shows such as Pop Idol, Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

He is not worried by the prospect of coming across badly.

He said: "I've been edited badly on TV all my life. I just try to be myself.

"Having 50 per cent of the people love you and 50 per cent hate you is better than having 75 per cent think you're okay, because they won't vote.

"I know I lack a little credibility. In the record industry you're only as good as your last hit which is why we're all doing this - our hits were all too long ago.

"I didn't handle my career too well yet here I am again, having another go.

"People may think my head's in the clouds but if you don't have dreams they can't come true."

The eight-week series, presented by Davina McCall, starts on ITV1 on Saturday, March 8.