Brand did a cover of Downtown

Brand left after losing a "sing for survival" contest on Saturday's show - Cold Feet star John Thomson and Casualty actor Will Mellor stayed to fight another day.

The comedienne sang with a weak and flat voice, missing several lines during her rendition of Sixties ballad Downtown.

On Friday night TV presenter Paul Ross was the first to leave after losing a knock-out selection.

On Saturday Children's TV presenter Fearne Cotton, 21, was voted off after giving a poor rendition of the Travis song Driftwood.

"I totally would have gone that way if I was voting for me," she said.

All the participants, including Casualty actor Kwame Kwei-Armah, Ulrika Jonsson and actress Doon Mackichan, are singing for a place in TV's Fame Academy in aid of Comic Relief.

The celebrities are being put through their singing and dancing paces in a charity version of BBC One's talent show.

Survival

The remaining six stars must sing for their survival every day for the next seven days before the winner is declared on Comic Relief Day, 14 March.

As with the original BBC TV show, it is being hosted by Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley and led by head teacher Richard Park.

As tutors England rugby Lawrence Dallaglio and boxer Audley Harrison will be helping with fitness levels while hypnotist Paul McKenna will help the stars overcome stage fright.

Fearne Cotton (r) lost out to Doon Mackichan

Musical impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber will also be dropping in to give advice.

Celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke will give the stars a make-over and Ready Steady Cook presenter Ainsley Harriot will be cooking.

Money from each vote will go to Comic Relief, which raises money for charities both home and abroad.

The original Fame Academy made stars out of winner David Sneddon, runner-up Sinead Quinn and other students including Ainslie Henderson.