Competition Gareth Gates Should Be Glad Not To Have Won

Chiswick singer makes two appearances in top ten worst ever cover versions

Poor Gareth Gates, not only did he come second to Arts Ed's Will Young all those years ago, he’s now come third and seventh in a recent poll. However this time he’ll be almost relived not to have come first because the poll in question was one that listed the worst cover songs ever recorded.

Churchill Insurance surveyed over 2,000 people to find the top ten which was headed by William Shatner’s cover of the Beatles classic Lucy in the sky with diamonds.

Gareth Gates, who now calls Chiswick home, followed Britney Spears’ version of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ I love rock 'n' roll with his rendition of Spirit in the sky, originally a hit for Norman Greenbaum in 1970. His version with the Kumars may have got to number one in the UK charts but isn't considered a hit in the covers stakes.

Gareth took seventh place with his version of Unchained Melody making him the only artist to appear twice in the top ten.

Other artists featured in the roll call of shame are Kelly Osbourne, Terry Wogan, Madonna, Rolf Harris, Rik Waller and this year’s X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.

Churchill’s Matt Owen, said, "Cover versions can provoke huge debate and what are considered to be bad covers for some, may be great versions for others. Even many of our so-called worst cover versions ever, and the people fronting them, have had great success."

"It's interesting to see that half of the worst cover versions have been sung by budding popstars coming through on reality TV programmes."

Churchill Insurance commissioned the research to mark the launch of a new TV advertisement featuring Rolf Harris.

January 21, 2009