The king is dead — long live The King!

AN Elvis impersonator is all shook up after scooping the top place in a battle to find the best Elvis impersonator in Britain.

Royton lad Chris Connor (30) has won a dream holiday to Memphis after he beat off 29 other hopefuls to be crowned the winner in the Images of the King contest in Wales.

Once out there, Chris will visit Elvis’s Graceland home and will be competing in the finals of the American version of the contest.

A life-long Elvis fan, Chris was working in construction and jumping up to sing the occasional Elvis track on karaoke when he realised that he might just have what it takes to impersonate the undisputed king of rock n roll full time.

Now, 18 months later, he performs in pubs, clubs and at charity events up and down the country.

Coming up are performances at the Manchester Apollo, the St David’s Concert Hall in Cardiff and the Harrogate International Centre in the World’s Greatest Elvis tribute concert after being chosen by organisers as one of the cream of the Elvis crop.

Chris, of Sandringham Way, said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic to have won the Images Of The King competition. To visit Graceland will be the dream for me and I’m getting better known in America, so it will be great to raise my profile a bit.”

And though Chris is gearing up to hit the big time, his fans in Oldham are still as loyal as ever.

Music lover, Sheila Hardy (62) from Royton, said: “I remember Elvis the first time round and Chris really evokes those early days of rock and roll.

“He looks the spitting image of Elvis and he works incredibly hard to perfect his voice, so he has the same Southern drawl that Elvis had. He’s a real perfectionist.”