Palmer-Tomkinson wins at Academy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/6460733.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has triumphed over Heartbeat actress Tricia Penrose to win singing contest Comic Relief Does Fame Academy.

The star, 35, sang her way to victory with These Boots Are Made For Walking, a number one for Nancy Sinatra in 1966.

Judge Lesley Garrett praised her "enormous eccentricity" and called her performance "great fun".

Viewer's votes on singing contest raised more than £780,000 for Comic Relief projects in Africa and the UK.

Thirteen stars started out in the Academy two weeks ago, including Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon, DJ Colin Murray and BBC Sport presenter Ray Stubbs.

Former EastEnders star Shaun Williamson had been favourite to win for most of the series, but was overtaken by Palmer-Tomkinson before being evicted on Thursday.

"If I could personally ring each and every one of you who voted for us, I would," said Palmer-Tomkinson, "but I'd be broke!"

This was the third time the Fame Academy contest had been conducted for Comic Relief.

The 2005 edition raised more than £1.3m for charity, and was won by Radio One DJ Edith Bowman.

Actor Will Mellor won the first celebrity contest in 2003.