Britain’s worst Elvis Presley impersonator has been banned from taking part in a tribute act competition.
Simon Goldsmith, 46, was told he was “too comical” for the annual King’s Crown Elvis contest and would be “laughed off stage”.
The postman, who raises money for charity by performing in his white sequin suit, insists he has been treated unfairly.
Simon said: “I might look a bit rubbish, but I can sing and put on a really good show.
“I just want to do something different and to be fun.
“You see a lot of Elvis tributes who just go through all his tracks but I do something different.
“When I saw the quality of some [of the acts that] got in I thought ‘I could have done that’.”
Simon, who admits he is probably Britain’s worst Elvis tribute, describes his act as “quite slapstick”.
He covers modern songs by artists including Britney Spears in Elvis style,and also dresses as ‘Zombie Elvis’.
Simon was hoping to donate the £1000 prize from last month’s competition in Ipswich, Suffolk, to a hospice in memory of his dad.
But after his application was turned down he decided to raise funds himself, making £2600 in just three days.
Andy Sexton, the organiser of the King’s Crown Elvis competition, says he admires Simon’s charity work but stands by his decision.
He said: “Our Elvis competition is not a comedy show
“These guys are professionals. I choose between 10 to 12 to enter and they have to be the best.
“I didn’t want people laughing at him. He would have got laughed off stage and I didn’t want that for him, I’m not a cruel guy.
“This is a serious competition and people pay money to get into it and watch it.”
