Connie Talbot's big gig for 600m Chinese

Songbird Connie Talbot will be jetting off to China this week to perform in front of an audience of more than 600 million at the country's New Year celebrations.

The 10-year-old, from Streetly, will face her biggest-ever audience when she performs on Chinese Government television next week.

The youngster's career has gone from strength to strength since she stole the nation's heart on Britain's Got Talent more than three years ago. Connie's parents Sharon and Gavin will accompany her to Beijing.

The trip to China will be the family's second in six months.

The youngster said: "I will be singing Over the Rainbow and another song which is a secret. I really like China because the people are really nice. When we went in July I saw Tiananmen Square, but this time I'm hoping to visit the Great Wall of China."

Mrs Talbot said there were also plans in the pipeline for Connie to record a new album, which is due to be released in the summer.

But before flying out on Saturday, mother and daughter will be going shopping to find the all-important dress for the big performance.

Mrs Talbot said: "We all love China it's a fantastic place. It's a long journey, but once we're there we'll have a super time. Connie loves travelling and takes it all in her stride.We need to do some shopping this week to pick a dress as it's a very special event."

In the meantime, Blackwood Primary pupil Connie will be getting stuck into her school work.

"I had a good Christmas I had an iPod which has got people like Whitney Houston, Maria Carey and Leona Lewis on it. I also had art sets because I like making things, which helps to pass the time when we're travelling," Connie said.

After coming runner-up on Britain's Got Talent, the schoolgirl topped the charts in the US and Canada with Bob Marley's Three Little Birds in December, 2008. It was the first British festive hit on the Billboard 100 singles chart since Phil Collins' Another Day in Paradise back in 1989.