The judges in Manx Stars In Their Eyes ‘The Last Show Ever’ faced a tough decision as the standard of the 12 singers who made it through to the final was so high.
But it was 30-year-old mum of two Kate Cowley, who transformed into Celine Dion, to sing It’s All Coming Back To Me Now in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall who was crowned the winner.
Since Saturday’s event, the video of her performance on YouTube has already received more than 1,800 hits.
One of the organisers, James Proudfoot said: ‘The 13th and final show was again fully supported and the audience were not disappointed by the line up of singers and dance routines throughout the night.’
He added: ‘We are still waiting for a final figure but we estimate that we raised £15,000 on Saturday for Manx Miracles and The Manx Blind Welfare Society, which takes our total to over £215,000 since the show started in 2000.’
Gena’s Dance Academy kick started the night with a stunning routine to Danish percussion duo Safri Duo’s hit Played Alive (The Bongo Song). Senior modern dancers then provided the dance routines for all of the performances, beginning with last year’s winner Jack Divers.
He repeated his winning performance as Bobby Darin.
Judging the 12 acts that made it through to the final from more than 60 entrants were Manx singer-songwriter Anna Goldsmith, former Radio 1 breakfast show co-host Dave Vitty, South Douglas MHK David Cretney and Energy FM’s Tessa Hawley.
Kate, who lives in Douglas with husband David and children William, three, and Aalin, one, received a cheque for £750 from Pokerstars. In second place was Rebecca Forrest who sang Rainy Days and Mondays as Karen Carpenter, to win £500 from Ardern and Druggan.
Tom Dixon was placed third. He took to the stage as Elvis Costello to sing the cover of She, which features in the film Notting Hill.
The other singers on the night were: Emma Mingins who sang Liquid Lunch as Caro Emerald; Angela Wells who sang Brass in Pocket as Crissie Hynde; Bethany Kaneen who sang Jolene as Dolly Parton; Richard Cull who sang I Started a Joke as Robin Gibb; Neil King who sang Always On My Mind as Neil Tennent from Pet Shop Boys; Adam Kelly who sang I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor as Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys; Ann-Marie Craine who sang That Don’t Impress Me Much as Shania Twain; Lee France who sang What I’ve Done as Chester Bennington from Linkin Park; Donna Colligon who sang Love Is a Battlefield as Pat Benatar.
It was announced in the summer that this year’s show would be the last.
James admitted that they were very proud of the show – but that they no longer had the time to make the show what it is.
Watch Kate’s winning performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRogR-st6zQ&feature=youtu.be