The makers of BBC1 show The One and Only have been accused of potentially acting illegally by failing to pay the tribute acts who took part.

In the hit show, which was won by Dusty Sprinfield act Katy Setterfield, Kylie Minogue, Sir Elton John, Madonna, and Robbie Williams' impersonators battled it out to win a performing contract in Las Vegas.

But unlike previous BBC talent shows How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, the participants were not even paid the minimum wage.

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Exploited: Actor's union Equity accused the BBC of allowing exploitation after the production company Endemol, the makers of the BBC1 show One and Only failed to pay the tribute acts who took part

No payment: Host Graham Norton, winner Katie and the runners-up in the competition. Unlike the TV search shows for Maria and Joseph, they were not paid for their participation for the shows duration

Actors' union Equity said the contestants on the Saturday-night show, presented by Graham Norton, signed contracts which assigned all performance rights to Endemol and waived their protections under working time laws.

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Runners up: Lionel Richie (Moni Tivony) and Frank Sinatra (Anthony Adams) were runners up to Katy on the hit show for programme makers Endemol

As a result they became employees of Endemol and should have been paid by the independent production company, Equity said.

The union said Endemol had refused to pay the participants despite approaches by the union.

Cher contestant Joanne Berns made it to the Las Vegas final - but also was not paid

Assistant general secretary Andy Prodger said: "Endemol is one of the biggest and most profitable independent TV producers, yet despite numerous approaches by Equity they have refused to pay even the smallest possible fee to the 24 contestants which have made The One And Only such a big hit.

"When the BBC produced their own talent shows, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, they acted honourably and engaged all the finalists on proper industry-standard contracts with pay rates well above national minimum wage.

"And have agreed to do so again in the forthcoming shows I'd Do Anything, which hopes to cast parts in a forthcoming production of Oliver.

"Unfortunately Endemol is apparently happy to exploit the dreams of aspiring performers without offering them a penny."

He said: "I am very disappointed that the BBC, which is funded by the licence fee, allows such exploitation and doubt if the viewers who spent good money on telephone voting knew that none of the money would go to the performers who entertained them so well."

The union said it had raised the issue with the National Minimum Wage section of HM Revenue and Customs.

Mr Prodger said: "Any member involved in The One And Only who wants to make a complaint should contact Equity as soon as possible."

Katy Setterfield, won the show after getting the viewers' vote in last month's final, pipping the Frank Sinatra and Lionel Richie performers.

A spokesman for Endemol was unavailable for comment.

Winner Katy Setterfield triumphed after beating Lionel Richie and Frank Sinatra tribute acts