3 Nov 2011

Channel 4 News ‘talent’ wows charity show

Channel 4 News gains the respect of the crowd at the Newsroom’s Got Talent charity show, but fail to win the competition in a night described by Jon Snow as ‘exhilarating’.

For one night only Britain’s most respected newscasters slapped even more make up on to raise an estimated £40 000 for two charities – Leonard Cheshire Disability and Beating Bowel Cancer.

ITV London Tonight’s rendition of “He Had it Coming” from Chicago were placed first by the celebrity judges Arlene Phillips, Anton du Beke and Christopher Biggins.

Faye Barker, who performed alongside Charlene White for London Tonight, said: “It’s amazing to have won. Everyone tonight was brilliant. We rehearsed late at night but our performance didn’t really come together until this evening. The competition was really tough this year so we were really thrilled to have won.”

C4 News

But there was tough competition for the winners on the night, including a high-energy performance of “Working 5 to 9” by the Daybreak team, and a glamorous performance from Sky News with a shimmering rendition of Girls Aloud song “The Promise”.

Channel 4 News were only one of two acts to receive a standing a ovation with its version of The Foundations’ “Build Me Up Buttercup.”

Lead singer Jon Snow, resplendent in a glittering gold jacket and backed by Cathy Newman and Krishnan Guru-Murthy on the guitar, received a rousing reception from the audience and judges.

Jon Snow said it was a memorable way to celebrate Channel 4 News’ 29th birthday.

“It was exhilarating. I can’t remember the last time I was so nervous. We rehearsed every lunch time for the last week, and I think tonight we got it absolutely right.

“It was a great way to help celebrate Channel 4’s 29th birthday and we’ve all had a lot of fun putting the song together.”

Co-presenter Cathy Newman agreed, saying: “Truly, it’s the taking part not the winning. What a great night.”