Elva will be the new host for the 2010 season of the Tastee Talent Trail competition. - File

Thirty years on, the Tastee Talent Trail, Jamaica's longest and most successful Talent contest has, as it did in 2007, undergone major changes.

The first prize has been doubled to $1 million in cash with $250,000 going to the second place winner, and $50,000 for third place.

In addition, the series, which has given us some of Jamaica's biggest stars in the form of Nadine Sutherland, Beenie Man, Yellow Man, TOK, Brian and Tony Gold and Glacia Robinson, has changed both its host and its panel of audition judges.

audition judges

Comedy star Elva takes over as host from Trecia 'Sparks' Spence while audition judges read like a who's who of Jamaican personalities. Oral Tracey the lone male, will be flanked by actress Karen Harriott and Timberlee.

Elva has carved a place for herself on the local comedy scene with her sharp witty delivery and facial expressions.

Oral Tracey has been known to push the envelope in his Sports Commentary and will bring his acidic tongue to the final judges tent.

Karen Harriott, in keeping with character, will be Karen, while the young and effervescent Timberlee will add to the mix.

major sponsors

With major sponsors Tastee and Pepsi, the Trail will open with two dates in May, the first in Portmore and the second in May Pen.

Thereafter the Trail will include; Ocho Rios in June, Savanna-La-Mar in July, Montego Bay in August before ending in Kingston in September.

The Grand Finals are set for December 9, at the Tastee Open Air Theatre in Cross Roads.

There are other significant changes to the format of the 2010 staging of the Trail which will be announced shortly.