ELTON JOHN - COTTON IS SOAP SING KING

Coronation Street's Antony Cotton has won the second series of ITV1's Soapstar Superstar after beating Emmerdale actress Hayley Tamaddon in last night's final.

The 31-year-old's rendition of Elton John's Daniel was enough to convince the judges and voting public that he was the deserved winner of the competition, which saw 11 soap actors pitted against each other in the crooning stakes.

Cotton, who plays Corrie barman/factory worker Sean Tully, said he was "absolutely gobsmacked" after winning £200,000 for the Elton John Aids Foundation.

"I was convinced it was Hayley," he said, fighting back the tears.

The actor's other two songs in the competition's final had been Tears for Fears' Mad World and Boyzone's Love me for a Reason, while Tamaddon, who plays Delilah Dingle, had sung Jump by the Pointer Sisters, Atomic Kitten's Whole Again and Feels Like I'm in Love by Kelly Marie.

Other soap stars taking part in the show included Jane Danson, Coronation Street's Leanne Battersby, and Alan Fletcher; Dr Karl Kennedy of Neighbours fame.