EDITH'S POP ROYALTY DJ is crowned queen of Fame Academy - now she's looking for her old band

By Himaya Quasem, Backstage At Comic Relief



STUNNED Edith Bowman is ready to rock and roll back the years and reform her first band after winning TV's Fame Academy.

Just hours after her triumph in Comic Relief's celebrity talent contest, the Radio 1 DJ revealed she hoped to meet up with her old bandmates again.

Edith said she would track down members of her school band, Groovers With Manoeuvres Bookmakers have offered odds of 10-1 that she'll score a UK No.1 as a solo artist - and 100-1 that she'll make a platinum-selling album.

Relaxing yesterday after two gruelling weeks in the TV Academy, Edith, from Anstruther, Fife, took time out to speak to the Sunday Mail.

She said: 'Being in the band at school was the best laugh and we had some great times together.

'I would love to get back in touch with the folk who were in the band. It's something I have always wanted to do.

'I managed to stay in touch with one guy who married a friend but ever since moving to Edinburgh to study I lost touch with most of them.'

Last night, the Bowman family were hosting a party for 200 people in Anstruther to celebrate Edith's victory.

She beat EastEnders actress Kim Medcalf after delivering a rousing rendition of the Oasis hit Champagne Supernova as her final number.

More than eight million people voted, raising more than £1million.

Edith got a good luck text from Sir Paul McCartney - and Chris Evans and Johnny Vegas raised thousands for Comic Relief by backing her to win in a charity bet. Her victory cost bookies Ladbrokes £20,000.

Yesterday, the DJ said: 'The things that kept me going were the memories of home and of singing at my mum's B&B and the great encouragement and response I got from the regulars.

'I will still carry on singing in the B&B. I don't even know what the regulars there have thought of my performances. I hope they liked them.'

Despite winning dozens of plaudits from the Fame Academy judges, Edith said: 'I really didn't expect to win and I didn't come here to win. I don't feel like a singer, I don't expect my career to propel in any other direction.

'Singing is something I enjoy but I can't wait to get back to my day job. I came here to do something for Comic Relief and the best part is the amount of money we raised.

'I know it's been going a bit mad up in Scotland and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted.

'It's great to know so many people are rooting for you.

'I'm a proud Scot and I can't thank everyone enough who voted for me.'

Edith revealed she often visited karaoke bars with her co-presenter Colin Murray - and insisted he was the better crooner.

She said: 'One of my favourite places is a bar in Dundee, an old converted church.

'Colin and I once went to a karaoke competition and he won. So maybe he should be in Fame Academy next.'

Edith revealed Colin sent her a negligee to cheer her up while she was stuck in the Fame Academy house.

During her two weeks there, Edith struck up a close friendship with fellow Scot Dawn Steele.

And she sang Champagne Supernova on the final night as a tribute to the Monarch of the Glen star.

She said: 'I knew Dawn wanted to sing that song so I thought I've got to do that for her. Plus I couldn't resist doing an Oasis song to the backing of Jools Holland and his band.'

Edith's dad Sandy said: 'I was so chuffed. Everyone's always said she'd make a great singer and she won it with the support from everyone back home.

'She says now that she wants to carry on being a DJ but who knows what might happen in the future? She's certainly proven that she's got a voice.'

Mum Eleanor said: 'I never thought in a million years that she would win it but she has and I'm just so proud of her.'

Donations to Comic Relief soared towards £40million yesterday.

Scots were credited with raising a huge chunk of the £37million amassed on Friday - the biggest-ever total on the night.

Hopes are high that the final total will beat the £61million record.

Edith revealed she often visited karaoke bars