One and Only winner to grace stage

The winner of the TV programme The One and Only which featured Black Country Tom Jones tribute act Simon Abbotts will be coming to the area.

Katy Setterfield was crowned the winner of the talent show for her impersonation of sixties star Dusty Springfield.

Her prize was a contract to entertain in Las Vegas – and fresh back from the US she has unveiled tour dates in this country.

She will be stopping off at Dudley Concert Hall on September 26, her only visit to the Black Country – the hometown of Mr Abbotts. She will also be performing at The Garrick Theatre, Lichfield, on September 16 and The Prince of Wales Centre, Cannock, on October 25.

The BBC One show featured 44-year-old Simon Abbotts who performed as Welsh heart-throb Tom Jones.

He narrowly missed out on winning the show but was so chuffed with the support he received from Dudley folk that he returned to the town last month to put on a special performance.

He was given a rapturous welcome at the Station Hotel as he came on stage to Tom Jones's hit Sexbomb and soon had people on the dancefloor.

Also performing on the night was fellow contestant Mony Tivony, who performed as Motown star Lionel Richie.

Mr Abbotts, of Carlton Close, said it was great to be home. Singing since his teenage years he had a brush with fame before, once breaking into the top 10 in Germany when he was the frontman with Black Country rockers Pulse.

His appearance on the programme caused a storm when the BBC banned the audience from hurling their knickers at him.

Black Country comedienne Our Trace urged fans to defy the ban. Before being booted off he was told by judge David Grant that he could be "a serious contender" to win the BBC One contest.