Edith wins by a Nose

By HENRY MELLER, Daily Mail

Last updated at 16:14 12 March 2005


Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman was voted the winner of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy last night.

She beat the favourite, East-Enders actress Kim Medcalf, after delivering a rousing rendition of Oasis's Champagne Supernova as her final number.

More than eight million viewers voted over the course of the special two-week series, raising more than £1.3million for Comic Relief.

Miss Bowman held her hand to her mouth in amazement after the result was announced before congratulating her fellow contestants and telling the studio audience her 11-day stint in the academy had felt 'like 13 years'.

Presenter Patrick Kielty told the audience the vote had been 'so, so close'.

Voted out

Earlier yesterday evening the public had voted former Young Ones star Adrian Edmondson, 48, out of the competition, leaving the two women to go head-to-head in a final contest.

Miss Bowman was born in Fife, Scotland, and made her first appearance on television reading the news for the music channel MTV.

She later presented the illfated Channel 4 breakfast show RI:SE before moving to Radio 1's early afternoon slot with copresenter Colin Murray.

Other contestants had included comedian Al Murray and TV presenter Fearne Cotton.

Last night Comic Relief organisers said they hoped their 20th anniversary Red Nose Day appeal will raise a record £100million.

Despite concerns of compassion fatigue after the Asian tsunami fundraising, this year's effort looks certain to beat the £61million achieved by the last Red Nose Day in 2003.

Comic Relief highlights

Highlights of last night's coverage included Sir Elton John, George Michael and Robbie Williams making cameo appearances on a Comic Relief version of Little Britain.

Williams appeared in a dress to play the part of a 'laydee' alongside Little Britain regular David Walliams.

The Little Britain Comic Relief DVD has raised more than £1million.

Also slipping into costume for Comic Relief was Rowan Atkinson, who was transformed into a hapless superhero called Spider Plant Man in a spoof of the Spider-Man movies.

The star of Mr Bean and Blackadder was joined by pop star Rachel Stevens, who played his girlfriend.

North v South

Other highlights of the telethon included Hugh Grant and Stephen Fry in a team of Southerners pitting their wits against a team of Northerners, including Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey and Cold Feet's John Thomson, in a special University Challenge.

Other contributors included Peter Kay, Graham Norton, Ricky Gervais and husband and wife Lenny Henry and Dawn French - with Miss French starring in a special edition of her comedy series The Vicar Of Dibley.

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