FORMER Tisbury Rector Jonathan Meyrick was less a saint than a sinner when he went on TV to perform a pop song once described by the Church as "disgusting".

Now a cathedral canon at Rochester, he appeared on Stars in Their Eyes on Saturday night impersonating Reg Presley, lead singer of '60s group The Troggs.

He chose to perform the hit song Wild Thing, complete with suggestive lyrics, which caused outrage in their day. Canon Meyrick was backed on stage by four bikini-clad cage dancers.

When he was in Tisbury Canon Meyrick did not shun the limelight, taking a leading role in pageants and portraying Jesus hanging on the cross as part of the parish's Easter story re-enactment.

He told presenter Matthew Kelly that he never missed a chance to sing and perform. On the night, Canon Meyrick was not a winner, with the honours going to a Kate Bush soundalike.

But one person who was impressed was Reg Presley himself, who now lives in Andover. He said: "He didn't get the head wiggles quite right but otherwise it was very good."

After his performance, Canon Meyrick explained: "When I am in the pulpit I do what I do for God. This, I did for me."