NORTHERN IRISH SINGER Damian McGinty has claimed a spot in the finale of a US reality television show, moving a step closer to landing a role in the television series, Glee.

The Glee Project finale airs in America this Sunday when Damian will take on Alex, Lindsay and Samuel for the prize of a seven-episode arch on the hugely popular show.

The final four have already beaten off competition from 40,000 hopefuls to star alongside Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison (Rachel and Mr. Schuester) on the series.

In case you don’t have a television set, a teenage daughter or taken a trip to the cinema in the past year, Glee is a FOX show that follows the trials and tribulations of a high school show choir. It’s unbelievable popularity has already seen its producers add a number side projects to their repertoire, including 3D Concert Movies (they exist!) and numerous compilation albums.

However, the presence of a young Irish man in the final four of The Glee Project has kept us interested in this particular spin-off, which started airing in America on 12 June.

Each week, Damian and his fellow contestants have been given a “homework assignment” which entails learning  parts of a song and performing it in front of a guest judge from the current Glee cast.

Although Damian, a former singer with Irish group Celtic Thunder, has made it this far, it hasn’t always been plain sailing.

According to Poptimal, the 18-year-old’s toughest moment came when his friend on the show Cameron quit so that Damian could continue to “play another day”.

The winner of the reality show will get their own character written into the series by creator Ryan Murphy. Derry native, Damian, told Poptimal that he would like to play a shy, laid-back guy who joins New Directions, McKinley High’s show choir.

Irish fans can watch The Glee Project on Sky 1 on Wednesdays at 8pm (but, be warned, the show is a few weeks behind the American showings).