Facebook campaign for Mike Reid chart-topper

A Facebook campaign has been launched to get a song by former EastEnders actor Mike Reid to the top of the UK singles chart.

DJ Darren Harper, who presents the Breakfast With Balls show on digital radio station Yorkshire Radio, wants people to "buy, play, broadcast and disseminate" Reid's cover version of Italian track Prisencolinensinainciusol.

Mike Reid, who made his name as a stand-up comedian, died in 2007. He had chart success in 1975 when he reached number 10 with a novelty version of The Ugly Duckling.

Harper said: "I was sent a link to the Prisencolinensinainciusol track by DJ Graeme Park, and just loved it. I thought first of all it was a new remix, like JXL/Elvis from a few years ago."

"But after a bit of investigation found it's actually the real version. Mike Reid was ahead of his time with this Balearic number. I posted a link to it on Facebook and a friend decided to start a group to get it to number one. Whether or not it will, I have no idea, but if more people hear it...you never know as it's soooo good."

Rock band Rage Against the Machine claimed the 2009 Christmas number one after their single Killing In The Name sold 500,000 downloads following a Facebook campaign designed to prevent another X-Factor number one.

Mike Reid's granddaughter Claire Reid has backed the Facebook campaign, which has so far attracted 104 members.

She said: "Most people knew my Granddad as a stand-up comic or as Frank Butcher, clearly his singing talents need to be remembered too! Although, I must warn you - don't try and understand it - just enjoy it for what it is....total randomness and comedy. Let's hope with the power of social networking we can get Prisencolinensinainciusol back in the charts."

Prisencolinensinainciusol was composed by Adriano Celentano and originally performed by Celentano and Raffaella Carra.

Listen to Mike's version of Prisencolinensinainciusol online.