Scientist Leigh Craig is crowned our Karaoke Champ after thrilling final

Apr 20 2008 By Gayle Ritchie At The Academy

Scientist Is Crowned Karaoke Champ After Stunning Entrance Leigh Sings It To Win It And Proves Our Judges Wrong

SCIENTIST Leigh Craig expected a cracking night out when she joined the audience for the final of our search to find Scotland's karaoke champ.

What she didn't expect was to be crowned winner of the event - and get a standing ovation from an ecstatic 1000-strong crowd at a Glasgow's Carling Academy.

Leigh went up against the 25 finalists after winning the Prove The Judges Wrong prize draw slot.

And after her triumph, singing Maria McKee's power ballad Show Me Heaven, the 27-year-old said: "I can't believe I've won. I'm shell-shocked.

"I didn't expect to be singing tonight at all so to be crowned Karaoke Champ is a dream come true.

"My mum was crying with joy when I phoned her and my dad couldn't believe it."

Leigh, from Falkirk, won s5000 and the chance to record a CD.

Her performance stunned our five celebrity judges. Leigh, who has a PhD and works for the Scottish Agricultural College, had entered the early stages by submitting a video clip on our website. But her film didn't hint at her electric live performance.

Despite her lack of success, Leigh turned up at the event to support her pal, swing king Greg Lloyd, 22, who had made it through to the last 25.

Greg was also backed by snooker champion John Higgins.

Leigh said: "I came to the show to support Greg and was thinking of leaving to go and console him when he didn't win his category.

"But when I heard my name being read out telling me I'd won the draw and was in with a chance of winning, I was rooted to my seat with fear.

"I hadn't glammed up for the event.

"But I went up and belted out the tune as best I could. I just went for it."

She added: "Having the chance to sing on a stage which has been graced with the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs, Proclaimers and The White Stripes was just amazing."

Leigh has been karaoke crazy all her life. She met her husband Iain, 28, when they sang duets together at karaoke nights at the Woodcutter pub in Cumbernauld 10 years ago.

The couple got together in 2000 and were married last year.

She said: "Iain bought me one-toone singing lessons for a Christmas present three years ago. Since then I haven't looked back.

"I can't wait to get into the studio and start working on some tunes now. It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm going to go for it."

The night was hosted by actress and singer Kathleen McDermott and judges were songwriter John McLaughlin, T in the Park boss Geoff Ellis, King Tuts promoter Dave McGeachan, curry king Charan Gill, DJ Heather Suttie and Sunday Mail showbiz writer Mickey McMonagle.

They were all bowled over by the quality and quantity of entries but eventually picked the top five in five categories to go into the final.

Mickey said: "We were all blown away by Leigh's fantastic voice. It's absolutely unbelievable that she wasn't picked as one of the finalists.

"Her video clip didn't do her justice. But tonight we've seen her true talent shine through. She's a real winner."

Heather added: "I can't believe we missed her out but she's finally got the recognition she deserves."

The winner of the Golden Oldies category was Kady Reilly, 20, of Cardonald, Glasgow, singing Judy Garland's Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The dance student said: "I entered the contest at the last minute after my mum persuaded me to give it a shot. I'm over the moon."

Judge Heather said: "She's cool as a cucumber. A natural born winner."

John McIntyre won the Country and Western category with his rendition of Amazed by Lone Star.

John, 26, from Broxburn, West Lothian, said: "I've not been singing for years so this is a real surprise.What a great feeling."

Judge Charan said: "John's a great entertainer and his personality really shone through."

Student Natalie Blaney, 16, won the Blues and Soul category with Whitney Houston's I Have Nothing.

The Wishaw lass said: "This is one of the best nights of my life."

Mickey said: "Natalie started off looking a wee bit nervous but by the end she was brimming with confidence. What a star."

One of the judges' favourites was 13-year-old Harry Wallace.

His rocking rendition of the Guns N' Roses hit Sweet Child O' Mine got him a standing ovation and made him winner of the Pop and Rock category.

Harry, who's in second year at the RoyalHigh School in Edinburgh, said: "My dad got me into Guns N' Roses when I was four years old and I absolutely love their tunes."

Heather said: "Harry is amazing. He's only 13 and yet he controlled the stage and belted out the song with real passion. What a voice."

Dave said: "He's a mini Axl Rose."

Mickey added: "Harry is destined for big things in the future."

The winner of the Funnies category was 18-year-old Alan McGeoch from Hamilton, with a side-splitting version of Donny Osmond's Puppy Love .

Alan, who studies music at North Glasgow College, said: "I prefer heavy rock but I thought I'd give Puppy Love a go - and I'm glad I did."

Judge Charan said: "Alan certainly has spirit and plenty of enthusiasm.

What a fantastic performance."

We sing when we're winning

OVERALL WINNER

LEIGH CRAIG

Show Me Heaven

by Maria McKee

POP & ROCK

WINNER: HARRY WALLACE, Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

RUNNERS-UP: LAURA MITCHELL, Valerie by Amy Winehouse GORDON KEANE, Same Jeans by The View GILLIAN CARUTHERS, Angels by Robbie Williams CHRISTEEN MACMURDIE, It's Oh So Quiet by Bjork

COUNTRY&WESTERN WINNER: JOHN McINTYRE, Amazed by Lone Star

RUNNERS-UP: AUDREY GAULT, Help Me Make It Through The Night by Gladys Knight IAN McNEIL, Desperado by The Eagles KELLY TAIT, These Boots by Jessica Simpson

GOLDEN OLDIES

WINNER: KADY REILLY, Over The Rainbow by Judy Garland

RUNNERS-UP: GREG LLOYD, Ain't That A Kick In The Head by Frank Sinatra THOMAS TWIGG, Cracklin' Rose by Neil Diamond ROBERT CARLIN, Walk Away by Matt Munro JIM GORDON, Only Make Believe by Conway Twitty

FUNNIES

WINNER: ALAN McGEOCH, Puppy Love by Donny Osmond

RUNNERS-UP: JENNIFER and EDDIE, Phantom Of The Opera by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman RYAN JOHNSTON, Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley JOHN REID, Way Down by Elvis Presley BRENNA HOWLEY, the theme tune from Sheila's Wheels advert

BLUES & SOUL

WINNER: NATALIE BLANEY, I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston

RUNNERS-UP: LAURA WESTWATER, Say A Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin JADE DOIG, Fever by Peggy Lee EMMA KELL, If I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys ELAINE JAPPY, Don't Know Why by Norah Jones

'When my name was read out telling me I had won the draw to sing, I was rooted to my seat with fear'

Champion Leigh Craig

Watch the video at sunday mail.co.uk

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g.ritchie@sundaymail.co.uk