By Ian Youngs BBC News Online entertainment staff

The 12 Fame Academy students - who viewers will get to know through a new BBC reality TV talent show - enter their specially converted mansion on Friday.

The entrance to the Fame Academy house is soon likely to be marked by fans hanging around, hoping to get a glimpse of Marli or Ainslee or Pippa.

But until they become household names (and if the show's a hit, they will), it is marked by a security guard on a chair and signs informing you that big men with dogs will do nasty things to you if you even think about wandering into these innocent-looking grounds.

The mansion is said to be worth �35m

An arched entrance on a normal (if well-heeled) suburban north London street hides the house from the outside world.

The house - well, mansion - is reputed to be worth �35m and the second largest in London. After Buckingham Palace.

The Queen has danced in the ballroom, Yehudi Menuhin set the musical pedigree by performing there and Sting lives next door.

The 12 Fame Academy contestants may subject themselves to national humiliation during their stay, but at least they will do it in luxury.

From the mansion's main entrance, the hallway leads into the front room, which has dark wood walls filled with gold discs and Warhol-style prints of legends like the Beatles.

The first 11 students were drawn from 10,000 who auditioned

To add to the atmosphere of history and achievement, there are two busts of serious-looking men in front of imposing pillars, a guitar and a saxophone in glass cases and an old-style BBC microphone on the mantelpiece.

It will all provide a dramatic backdrop as Marli, Ainslee, Pippa and co sing, snuggle and scream on the plush maroon sofas.

Instant stardom

Unfortunately, the gold discs are from lesser-known acts like goth rock veterans The Mission and dance diva Ultra Nate, but with all the excitement, hopefully the cameras will not get close enough to give that away.

Fame Academy is the latest in a string of recent TV talent shows to hit UK screens, and it has already been huge in Spain, France and Holland.

Like hit ITV shows Popstars and Pop Idol, it plans to produce at least one one singing star who will get record deals and instant stardom.

It's certainly not just a cynical ratings battle

Richard Hopkins Executive producer

But it differs from its rivals in that viewers will not see the auditions - just the final 12 living together and being trained in performance skills as, week by week, they get voted out of the house.

Producers deny it is a ratings-chasing reaction to the Popstars phenomenon, which has seen ITV strike gold.

'Different levels'

Instead, they describe it as the latest chapter in the BBC's proud history of talent shows, which will teach the students real skills that will help them build real careers when they leave.

"This show works on so many different levels," executive producer Richard Hopkins told BBC News Online.

"Obviously, we want it to be a thoroughly entertaining show that lots of people watch and enjoy," he said.

The students will sleep in shared bedrooms

"But it is about honing talent and bringing new talent to the public, and that's something the BBC has always been very proud of.

"It's certainly not just a cynical ratings battle."

It is ironic that Fame Academy is starting in the same week that the original TV group, Hear'Say, split up.

But that does not mean that any star created by a TV show is doomed, Mr Hopkins says.

"These people have a depth of musical talent, charisma and character that we feel will have a longevity, possibly beyond your average pop combo," he says.

"That's what we're hoping."

Scores of cameras have been fitted around the house

And unlike one of the UK's other reality TV hits, Big Brother, the contestants will not simply be locked up and forced to sit around all day.

They can go into the mansion's extensive grounds, take a trip to the TV studio every Friday, make one phone call per week, and may even receive newspapers - with all Fame Academy stories heavily censored.

"It's not like they're in prison," Mr Hopkins says.

"They're within the Academy to focus on what they're doing. It's not like locking them away and watching them for fun."

Rigorous coaching

As well as the living room and gardens, the students will have the use of a music room with a grand piano, a dance studio and a recording studio that is bathed in pink neon light.

Some classes will take place in the music room

And they will be given rigorous coaching by four teachers who will help the lucky 12 put together a repertoire of songs in time for the weekly Friday night BBC One extravaganza.

Overseeing it all will be the headteacher, Richard Park, a former reporter and radio executive who was named the most influential person in the music industry in 2001.

His will be a "tough love" regime, Mr Hopkins says, and he will be responsible for any big decisions - as any headteacher would.

Whatever happens, the 12 students are likely to emerge from the house different people, according to Mr Hopkins.

"Everybody's got their journey to make, whether it's dealing with an attitude problem or two left feet or flat notes - whatever it is, everyone's got something they're trying to improve on.

"We know they've all got places to go, but we don't know how they're going to get there."

Fame Academy starts on BBC One at 2030 BST on Friday, and there will also be coverage on CBBC, BBC Choice and BBCi.