Tom Jones tribute TV star thanks fans

More than 200 people danced and waved the night away as a Black Country Tom Jones look-alike who shot to fame on hit TV show The One And Only came home to perform a special gig.

Simon Abbotts was one of the stars of the Graham Norton BBC1 show, which at its peak pulled in more than seven million viewers.

The 44-year-old narrowly missed out on winning the show – but he was so chuffed with the support he received from Dudley folk that he returned to the town last night to put on a special performance.

He was given a rapturous welcome at the Station Hotel as he came on stage to Tom Jones hit Sexbomb and soon had people on the dancefloor.

Also performing on the night was fellow contestant Mony Tivony, who performed as Motown star Lionel Richie.

Speaking to the Express & Star before he went on stage, Simon, of Carlton Close, said it was great to be home.

"It is fantastic," he said. "There are a lot of people here who took the time to vote for me and so I wanted to say thank you, I wanted to do a show in Dudley."

Simon said his life had been transformed since appearing on the show.

He said: "People know who you are once you have been on the telly and that has really helped."

Among the crowd on the night was Simon's mother Val, who was his biggest fan during the show, travelling the studios in London every week to watch her son perform.

"My mum has always been incredibly supportive of me, right back in the early days when I was a rock singer," Simon said.

"I think she likes it more now though because she actually likes the music!"

Singing since his teenage years Simon had a brush with fame before, once breaking into the top 10 in Germany when he was the frontman with Black Country rockers Pulse.