D Tuesday, January 12, 2010 News 11 Britains goat talent A GIFTED goat, who waves a jolly greeting at people as they visit his farm, has turned his back on the chance to become the next Susan Boyle. Producers of Britains Got Talent have tried to sign Darren, an Anglo-Nubian goat, for this years show after he became a hit on YouTube. But his owners refuse to take him to auditions because appearing before Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden could be bad for his health. Darren is a favourite at White Post Farm in Nottinghamshire, UK, where he greets visitors by climbing the fence and waving his left hoof. BGT producers have phoned Anthony Moore, marketing manager at the farm, about a dozen times in recent weeks. But he said: Its not our thing, it goes against the animal welfare standards weve set here. Making him wave in front of thousands of people would not be right for Darren. Last week, they rang to say eight-year-old Darren had passed the first round of auditions after producers watched a video of him on the internet. Mr Moore added: At first, we thought it was a crank call. At the time, we said we would think about it, but decided then that, if it came to an audition, we wouldnt do it.Friendly: Darren waves his hoof Its snow bet for 7million pay-out BOOKMAKER Ladbrokes is refusing to pay out more than 7million (7.7million) to a man who gambled on a white Christmas across the UK. Cliff Bryant, 52, had placed two 5 accumulator bets that snow would fall on 24 towns and cities across the north of England on Christmas Day. The bookmaker refused to pay out saying the bet was accepted by mistake. Hockey player fined for a beer and a hug A HOCKEY player and two team officials have been fined by Pakistans parliament for un-Islamic behaviour after pictures circulated of them hugging a woman and apparently drinking alcohol in Argentina last month. Men hugging women in public is taboo in Pakistan, a conservative Muslim country, and drinking alcohol is illegal for Muslims. Cher and Cher-alike One is a megastar, the other is an impersonator. Oh, and hes a bloke too By Jo Steele WHEN Steven Andrade dresses up he looks so much like Cher even his mother wouldnt recognise him. But thats just as well, because he hasnt told her about his night job as a Cher impersonator. And he also hasnt mentioned that hes gay. Mr Andrade, 35, is a regular churchgo- er and one of the most in-demand Cher impersonators in the world. He has made 500,000 miming along to medleys of Cher hits in the last 13 years. I thought about telling my mum about the Cher thing. But how can you tell anyone that you impersonate Cher with- out them thinking you are gay? said Mr Andrade yesterday. I love my mother very much and would never want to hurt her. His similarity to the singer was spotted by a friend who had asked him to cross dress for a comedy show. After being nagged at constantly, I finally agreed and decided to imperson- ate Alanis Morrisette, who was very popular at the time, said Mr Andrade, from Philadelphia, in the US. So I put a black wig on and turned to face my friend. He looked shocked and just said, Oh my God, you are Cher!. Mr Andrade, a fashion designer by day, described his childhood as church, church and more church. Pop music and videos were regarded as too sinful by his parents and banned.a Double life: Steven Andrade turns back time as Cher Picture: Barcroft MediaBelieve: Shes the real thing. Cher in full voice Picture: Startraks Its a synch: Cher (left) and Steven index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html