Y Factor winner is crowned

THE Yorkshire dealmaking and finance community gathered to crown the King of Y Factor 2011 last night as a lawyer’s Elvis-style act triumphed.

The annual X Factor-style singing contest saw eight acts compete for the title and it was won by Richard Morton of Squire Sanders Hammonds singing Elvis classic Suspicious Minds.

Banking lawyer Mr Morton beat off strong competition from Damian Connelly of Barclays who sang Tony Christie’s Amarillo, and fellow banking lawyer Karen Sewell of Addleshaw Goddard who won plaudits for her performance of Carly Simon favourite Nobody Does it Better.

An audience of 330 from the Yorkshire dealmaking and restructuring community were at The Wardrobe venue in Leeds for the event, which raised more than £25,000 for charity Mencap.

Other contestants included Andy Morton of RBS who sang Sit Down by James, Adrian Rowles of Santander who performed Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, Tracy Fletcher of Calvert and Fletcher who sang Blondie’s One Way or Another, Rich Hughes of Deloitte with Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You and Andy Lancaster of KPMG with Madness favourite Our House.

Contestants performed alongside the Y Factor’s Average House Band led by BDO partner and bass player Graham Newton.

Now in its 4th year the Y Factor, sponsored by Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, Walker Morris and Euler Hermes, was compered by TheBusinessDesk.com managing director David Parkin.

Anne Malia, area fundraiser at Mencap, said “This was another fantastic evening of entertainment which shows the talent in the Leeds finance community. It raised more than £25,000 for Mencap and the four Y Factor events in Leeds have now raised well over £100,000 for Mencap’s work with those with learning disabilities.”

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