Aldridge claims charity title

HE is a record goal scorer with league and FA Cup titles galore and a wealth of Irish caps, but few, including himself, would have predicted two weeks ago that John Aldridge’s gravelly Scouse accent would see him crowned celebrity You’re A Star champion.

Yet with ‘Ring of Fire’ and ‘Lily the Pink’ the former Liverpool and Ireland striker charmed his way to the top of the celebrity crop, beating 10 of his fellow celebrities.

Actors, footballers, journalists and, some might say most bravely, politicians, have spent the last two weeks singing and, in some cases, murdering, musical favourites all in the name of charity.

By last night the competition had been narrowed down from 10 to just two acts — the former Irish international John Aldridge and perhaps the more musically adept ‘Ros na Run’ actress Aine Ní Dhroighneáin. However, it was obvious early on that singing talent was not going to take home the top prize.

Even the judges admitted before the final votes were cast that the footballer had the match won.

Louis Walsh summed it up. “You might not be the best singer, but you’re great,” he said while even Aldridge’s harshest critic in previous shows, Brendan O’Connor, said: “You showed something much bigger than being able to sing and that is your bottle. For that alone and for what you have done for your charity you are going to win.”

John was singing to raise funds for his charity the Temple Street Children’s Hospital and its CT Scanner Appeal. He’s been involved with the charity for five years.

During the show he admitted that last night’s songs were probably the only fun he had over the last few nervous weeks, but when his name was read out as the winner he simply said: “I am lost for words.”

He then led his fellow singers in a rousing rendition of ‘Lily the Pink’.