A north London family have formed a band and beaten 8,000 competitors to reach the final stages of a new television talent show.

Parents Laurence, 57, and Bebe Jacobs, 55, and their three children Alex, 27, Avi, 24, and Shira, 21, will perform in front of a live audience on Channel 5's Don't Stop Believing on Sunday (August 1).

Presented by former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and judged by singers Anastacia and Duncan James from Blue, former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite, and High School Musical choreographer Charles "Chucky" Klapow, the show is based on the popular US series Glee.

Each week, groups compete against each other live on air and viewers vote for the best act, who then go to the final and get the chance to win a recording contract with record company AWAL.

The Jacobs family, members of North Western Reform Synagogue, formed the band, Jacobs Street, from their home in Finchley after singing together and entertaining friends for years.

The band's name was picked after eldest son, Alex, a professional actor, musician and song writer, wrote a song called Marshall Street.

"We had the idea to change the name of the song to Jacobs Street and use it as our signature tune," Avi, a freelance fashion assistant, said.

"We heard about the TV show via Facebook. We decided to enter because we love singing and performing, although we have varying sorts of experience.

"People have always told us we sound good singing in harmony together.

"What we hope is that after the show, we can entertain as a group, because we love combining our talents, singing as a whole group, individually and in duets.

"We are all loving the experience so far although Dad and I haven't danced for years - so learning the choreography for the show is really pushing us out of our comfort zone." Mother, Bebe, a parenting coach and training project manager, said: "This has been a fantastic experience and the dancing has really pushed my abilities as I haven't danced for many years."

Youngest child, Shira, a student at Leeds University, said: "I'm really enjoying this as it's great to show the nation that family is important and we've enjoyed sharing this experience as a family."

Laurence, a retired dentist, acts as cantor to the Borehamwood and Glasgow Masorti congregations.