Christmas cracker Peter Kay pops in for charity show - VIDEO
LOOK who's been giving Sheffield hitmaker Eliot Kennedy a Christmas kiss under the misteltoe - it's Peter Kay, as Geraldine McQueen!
And promoter Dennis Hobson was playing cupid.
They all earlier shared the stage for a charity concert with rock legend Bryan Adams, the cast of TV musical drama Britannia High and a galaxy of other celebrity names, including football managers, players, boxers and ice-hockey stars.
The sold-out event at Sheffield City Hall raised thousands of pounds last night for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity and Cavendish Cancer Care.
CLICK the green button to see our video highlights of the show.
Watch Peter Kay's hilarious interview with The Star - CLICK HERE
Watch Peter Kay perform Geraldine McQueen's festive song live on stage - CLICK HERE
Watch South Yorkshire's sporting greats singing Do They Know It's Christmas - CLICK HERE
Kay, in the guise of his Britain's Got The Pop Factor winner, planted a Christmas smacker on the cheek of songwriter Kennedy, thanking him and promoter Hobson for making the dream show come true.
He said of Kennedy, who has written hits for Bryan Adams, Take That, The Spice Girls, Boyzone, S Club 7 and Celine Dion: "He also proved tonight that he's a great performer. He has written so many fantastic songs over the years.
"It was a great honour to be asked to do this after winning my competition on TV. I hope they do it again every year."
Geraldine, decked out as Mother Christmas, sung Once Upon A Christmas Song, which was produced by Kennedy, written by Take That's Gary Barlow, and was tipped for the festive top spot against newly crowned X Factor champ Alexandra Burke, with her cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
But Kay admitted defeat last night and said he was proud to be at number five in the mid-week chart, raising lots of money from sales for the NSPCC.
He said backstage: "It's number five and I'm very happy with that. It won't get to number one. It won't beat Hallelujah. But it will make a lot of money for a great charity.
"The Xmas Factor – that's what it's all about, raising money for worthwhile causes.''
Geraldine dropped a comedy bombshell when she admitted she doesn't find funny the nation's best loved comedian, Peter Kay.
She added: "I don't like him. He doesn't make me laugh. I don't get it. I don't get that kind of humour. It's not my kind of thing. Garlic bread? What's that about?
"I'm more into Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, that's my kind of thing. Good, honest, clever adult British humour."
Geraldine helped out when rock star Bryan Adams had to leave early for a flight to Canada – she helped out by singing some of his greatest hits, including Everything I Do, I Do It For You and Summer Of 69.
Adams, as he left the building, told The Star, said: "It was a great pleasure to be part of this for my pal Eliot. I told him I would be here if I could. And I will be back to Sheffield. This is a great city. I'm used to playing multi-thousand seat arenas. But I've been playing smaller venues recently and this place rocked. Merry Christmas to all my fans here."
Kennedy plans to take the show on tour next year. But his home town got the full dress rehearsal last night, with all the trimmings – billed simply as the Christmas Charity Concert.
Singing a version of Do They Know It's Christmas? was Blades boss Kevin Blackwell, Owls captain Richard Wood, Doncaster Rovers director of football Mickey Walker, boxers Clinton Woods and Johnny Nelson, Steelers ice hockey players, BBC Radio Sheffield's Seth Bennett, promoter Dennis Hobson and his daughter, Jessica, 17. The bill also included local band The Tivoli.
Eliot said: "I want to thank all my pals, including many big names, like Bryan Adams, who came along to take part. He came from Canada and was going back there, so he had to dash. But Geraldine did a great job of singing some of his songs.
"It was all about raising money for two great cancer charities – and, of course, Gerladine's single for the NSPCC. This was a very humbling experience but proved the power music has to change and save lives.''
Dennis Hobson added: "This was an amazing night and has given me the taste to promote more concerts and music events. I was also very proud of my daughter, Jessica, to see here singing up there on that stage tonight. I'm sure she will go on to great things."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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