Clary claims Celebrity BB crown

Camp comic Julian Clary has won the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother.

The flamboyant comedian, 53, who had been the bookies' favourite to win the reality television show, walked out of the house in his trademark make-up to cheers this evening.

Having won the public over with his friendship in the house with former Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear, he admitted to getting emotional after winning the viewers' vote.

"It doesn't happen very often," he said, adding: "I haven't won anything in my life, what is my mother going to say? You've made a 53-year-old homosexual very happy."

Clary, 53, found fame with his cabaret act The Joan Collins Fan Club, accompanied by his pet Fanny the Wonderdog, going on to host shows such as Sticky Moments for Channel 4.

He caused a stir in the early 1990s with a near-the-knuckle joke about then chancellor of the exchequer Norman Lamont at a live TV awards show which led to a period in the wilderness.

But he bounced back to work on shows such as Prickly Heat, as a guest host on Have I Got News For You and as a regular panellist on Radio 4's Just A Minute.

Clary pipped former Loose Women presenter and singer Coleen Nolan, who finished second and former Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp, who despite being tipped as the second favourite, could only finish third.

Channel 5 said the celebrity show would return in January 13, in just four months time.