Scottish singer Lena Martell dies at 86

Scottish singer and television presenter Lena Martell has died at the age of 86. Born Helen Thomson, she passed away in a care home near Glasgow following a brief illness.

Martell achieved significant international fame, most notably with her 1979 cover of the country-gospel song ‘One Day at a Time’. The single reached number one on the British charts, remained in the charts for 36 weeks, and sold millions of copies, earning her a place in the Guinness World Records.

Her career spanned over five decades, beginning as a child performer in her brother's orchestra. She rose to prominence after winning the ITV talent show ‘Find the Singer’ at age 16. Beyond her recording success, she performed alongside icons such as Frank Sinatra in New York and Las Vegas, and once stood in for Barbra Streisand in the musical ‘Funny Girl’ on Broadway. In the 1970s, she also hosted a popular BBC music program that reached millions of viewers weekly.