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Rylan Clark becomes a celebrity judge

bonnie
Rylan Clark

was critiqued by the judges on last year's

The X Factor

, but the tables were turned on Thursday night when he formed part of a celebrity judging panel. The reality TV star joined

Strictly Come Dancing

stars Lisa Riley and Russell Grant along with

I'd Do Anything

winner Jodie Prenger to judge contestants in West End Eurovision 2013, a superbly camp, kitsch homage to the song contest. "I'm here to look for a husband," joked Rylan. The annual fundraising event sees sees casts from London's top shows perform covers of past Eurovision songs. Gok Wan, Sinitta, Ben Richards and Christopher Biggins were guest presenters on the night, which included performances by former Eurovision winners Katrina and the Waves.

Rylan Clark© Photo: Rex
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"It's the campest most beautiful night you’ll ever experience," said Jodie. "Camper than Rylan and me?" asked Gok. "Maybe not that much," quipped Jodie. Ten musicals competed in this year's West End Eurovision, which was held at the Dominion Theatre in London.

Spamalot

's rendition of Portugal's 1981 entry

Playback

included Bonnie Langford doing the splits, while the cast of

Billy Elliot

became boyband stars for the night as they paid tribute to Blue's 2011 entry

I Can

. The event started at 11.30pm, after the West End shows had finished.

Bonnie Langford
Wicked

,

Viva Forever

,

Mamma Mia!

,

The Phantom of the Opera

,

Rock of Ages

,

Top Hat

and

Rock of Ages

also competed, but it was new Irish musical

Once

who won the coveted trophy with their rendition of Dana's

All Kinds of Everything

. The winners were chosen after votes by the judging panel and public. The audience were up on their feet and dancing in the aisles when Katrina Lescanich concluded the evening by performing the Katrina and the Waves hit

Walking on Sunshine

and the UK's last winning Eurovision entry,

Love Shine A Light

.

Katrina Lescanich© Photo: Rex

The evening raised funds for the Make a Difference Trust, which brings together the British entertainment industry and its audiences to support those living with HIV and AIDS or facing hardship as a result of another long-term medical condition. This was the sixth annual West End Eurovision. Last year's winners were the cast of

Sweeney Todd

, who performed a cover of Michael Ball's 1992 Eurovision entry

One Step Out of Time

, with a surprise cameo from Michael himself. West End Eurovision came days after

this year's Eurovision Song Contest

, which was won by Emmelie De Forest. To find out more about the Make a Difference trust, visit

https://www.madtrust.org.uk/ WEST END EUROVISIONS - THE ENTRIES Billy Elliot

I Can

, originally performed by Blue, UK, in 2011

A Chorus Line

Party for Everybody

, originally performed by Buranova Grannies, Russia, in 2012

Mamma Mia!

Euphoria

, originally performed by Loreen, Sweden, in 2012

Once

All Kinds of Everything

, originally performed by Dana, Ireland, in 1970

The Phantom of the Opera

Hard Rock Hallelujah

, originally performed by Lordi, Finland in 2006

Top Hat

Genghis Khan

, originally performed by Dschinghis Khan, Germany, 1979

Viva Forever

This Is The Night

, originally performed by Kurt Calleja, Malta, 2012

Wicked

Wir Geben 'Ne Party

, originally performed by Mekado, Germany, 1994

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