New face boost for Batt

SINGER Katie Melua has hit the top of the album charts, boosting the financial success of her mentor Mike Batt, whose main company has just gone into profit.

Impresario Batt, best-known for his novelty band The Wombles, discovered 19-year-old Melua and released her debut album, Call Off The Search, on his Dramatico label.

The record will give a further fillip to Batt's finances. They have just been buoyed by his main company, Dramatico Entertainment, posting its first profit since it was set up in 2000.

Dramatico made a gross profit of £1.4m on turnover of £1.8m in the year to 31 March, according to its latest report and accounts.

After administrative expenses and interest charges, the group's pre-tax profits were £629,420, compared with a loss of £707,116 the previous year.