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NORTHERN TRIUMPH

The Leeds Contemporary Singers win the first Pitch Battle sing off for the live final

THE Leeds Contemporary Singers tonight became the first act to make the Pitch Battle live final.

The northern singers battled it out against LMA but came out tops on the new BBC show with their rendition of guest judge Will Young's hit Evergreen.

 The Leeds Contemporary Singers triumphed in the first Pitch Battle
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The Leeds Contemporary Singers triumphed in the first Pitch BattleCredit: BBC
 The northern singers battled it out against LMA
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The northern singers battled it out against LMACredit: BBC

It was left to the former Pop Idol winner to select the triumphant vocal group on the first episode of the BBC show.

Will - who left fans confused with his bizarre "karate-style" outfit choice - burst onto the stage and belted out the tune before joining The Leeds Contemporary Singers to indicate they had won.

Talking of their victory, he said: "It was so hard to choose between the groups.

 Will paired his shirt with baggy black trousers and his outfit confused viewers
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Will paired his shirt with baggy black trousers and his outfit confused viewersCredit: BBC
 The group couldn't hide their delight
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The group couldn't hide their delightCredit: bbc

"It was a pleasure with you to sing for 10 seconds.

"For the final, hopefully we can do it again."

 Pop Idol winner Will plumped for the Leeds bunch and sung with them on stage
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Pop Idol winner Will plumped for the Leeds bunch and sung with them on stageCredit: BBC

Meanwhile the fresh TV talent show failed to hit the high notes with some BBC viewers who slammed some vocal groups for using backing tracks and instruments.

Many took to Twitter to vent their fury that a handful  of tonight's six acts opted for props including guitars and a keyboard to support their performance.

 Pitch Battle fans were left furious after acts including Vocally Bespoke relied on instruments
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Pitch Battle fans were left furious after acts including Vocally Bespoke relied on instruments
 The BBC show kicked off tonight - but some fans were left less than impressed by the additional musical extras
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The BBC show kicked off tonight - but some fans were left less than impressed by the additional musical extrasCredit: BBC

Vocally Bespoke - who did not make the final three - were one of the ones to use an acoustic guitar while finalists LMA seemed to sing to a backing track.

One took to Twitter as the BBC show aired and hit the Caps Lock key to write: "OMFG STOP USING INSTRUMENTS ITS MEANT TO BE ALL YOUR VOICE!!!!!"

Another put: "I thought this was an acapella show? Why so many instruments?" while a third quizzed: "Em why is there instruments...."

 Vocal group LMA also came under fire for using a backing track
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Vocal group LMA also came under fire for using a backing trackCredit: BBC

One perplexed viewer put: "Keyboard and guitar? Double GTFO."

Another raged: "Do none of these people understand what acapella is? No instruments! Or you're just a plain old choir," while one followed up with: "ANOTHER GROUP WITH A BLOODY INSTRUMENTALIST."

One continued: "This is a load of tripe... not a Capella and since when is there backing tracks?!!!" while a viewer squealed: "LMA weren't even acapella! They had music in the background whereas Uptone Girls sung the instruments."

Meanwhile as the programme opened, fans were left confused by Will's bizarre "Kung Fu" white shirt outfit.

The popstar was a guest judge on the BBC talent programme's first episode - and admitted the collar on his crisp clobber had left him "struggling to breathe".

 He wore a shirt with a flapping collar with a white blazer and wide trousers
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He wore a shirt with a flapping collar with a white blazer and wide trousers

After he appeared on stage in the stark shirt with a flapping collar, blazer and wide legged trousers, host Mel Giedroyc told him: "Will, I have got to say, I am obsessed with your outfit - on top we have got Geisha, and on the bottom, Quaker."

"Yes Quaker, cullots, golfer. I was wrapped up in this shirt, it took about 10 minutes.

"I can't breathe, but I think it looks good."

 

Those taking part in Pitch Battle will fight it out across six weeks to win the £50,000 prize.

Each episode will see six groups take part, with just one winner at the end of each.

  •  Pitch Battle airs at 7.30pm on BBC One

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