South Yorks sport stars do Band Aid - VIDEO
SOUTH Yorkshire's sporting superstars became pop stars at a charity concert - when they performed Band Aid song Do They Know It's Christmas.
The line up included Blades boss Kevin Blackwell, Owls captain Richard Wood, Barnsley manager Simon Davey and Doncaster Rovers director of football Mickey Walker.
Joining them were boxers Clinton Woods and Johnny Nelson, Steelers ice hockey players, BBC Radio Sheffield's Seth Bennett, promoter Dennis Hobson and his daughter, Jessica, 17.
It formed part of an evening which included Peter Kay as Geraldine, rock star Bryan Adams, the cast of Britannia High and local bands Benron and The Tivoli - all pals of hitmaker Eliot Kennedy.
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 South Yorkshire's sporting greats sining Do They Know It's Christmas.
Watch our video highlights of the show- 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.
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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