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The Paul Potts Story - Underdog Does Win!

Read this Christmas Yuletide discs article on Business Times the day before. Josh Groban "Noel" album.... sure.... heard that before.

Glanced upon Paul Potts "One Chance" Christmas edition. Hmm.... so who's this? Never heard of the name before. Found it on Youtube. And his incredible rags-to-riches story was just so moving and inspiring to ordinary folks out there who are struggling to make lives meet that I knew immediately I had to post this up.

36 Year Old Opera Singing Phone Salesman from South Wales and Winner of Simon Cowell's ITV Show 'Britain's Got Talent'. A real Rags to Riches story with Paul £30,000 in debt, suffering years of bullying and recovering from a serious bike accident, he now has a massive recording contract and a great singing career ahead of him. His talent is not a secret anymore.

On His 1st Audition (watch this):

Spotted on the hit reality show Britain's Got Talent, "Singing Salesman made judge Simon Cowell's jaw drop" - was the headline from Courier Mail (now how many times have we seen that on American Idol? Not many)

A MOBILE phone salesman from Wales has stunned the judges of a British talent show with his rendition of an opera classic.

"Very few things makes me speechless. And you're one of em, Paul. An ordinary bloke, doing a normal job, very unassuming, quietly had an amazing talent. We had a vision when we do this show... that is to provide a platform so that we can show the world what they can do. And you're that guy." ex-tabloid editor Piers Morgan (1 of the 3 judges on Britain's Got Talent.

The audience and the judges including, has little expectation for this cell phone salesman, Paul Potts, until he brings them to their feet with an amazing performance of an extremely difficult opera song - Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”. Within 2 minutes, Paul shows more emotion than all the contestants combined.

I'm not into opera but even I had to watch this video a number of times. Unbelievable voice! After watching it, how can you still judge a book by its cover?

It was a daunting prospect, not only singing for a huge TV audience, but notoriously nasty Idol judge Simon Cowell. But Potts, who has battled a burst appendix, a huge tumour on his adrenal gland and a shattered collarbone after being knocked off his bike, knocked 'em dead.

Wearing a cheap £35 suit from Tesco supermarket and with his hair cut too short, he admitted the judges weren't initially impressed.

But when he opened his voice, he blew them all away.

Potts told the Wales on Sunday newspaper: "I don't think they were expecting very much. I'm a bit short and overweight and had a cheap old suit on and the hairdresser had used a number two on my hair instead of a four so it made me look a bit bald. "But when I sang, I made sure I looked at the judges and I saw Simon Cowell's jaw drop. I knew then I must have done alright."

Paul received a standing ovation from the 2000-strong audience at Cardiff's Millennium Centre and much praise from the hard-to-please judges, which included ex-tabloid editor Piers Morgan and actress Amanda Holden.

On His Semi-Final (watch this):

"I heard some of the audience were reduced to tears after my performance and Amanda has been quoted as saying the hairs on her neck stand up when she remembers it," Potts said. "As far as Im concerned, that's a great achievement already, anything else is a bonus. I just saw the show as my last chance really."

Potts was raised in Fishponds, Bristol, by his father Roland, a bus driver, and mother, Yvonne, a supermarket cashier. He has 2 brothers and 1 sister, and attended St. Mary Redcliffe school where he first developed his love of singing.

In the interview that was broadcast before his performance in the semi-final, Paul stated that he had trouble with being bullied in school, and that it may have had an influence on his lack of self-confidence.

On His Final (watch this):
Extracted from 20 June 2007 - from Daily Mail

He performed a full-length Nessun Dorma for his final on June 17, 2007 as well as an encore after he won the competition. Potts defeated co-favourite with the bookmakers, Connie Talbot and received the highest public vote out of 2 million votes cast to win Britain's Got Talent, winning the chance to perform at Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.

"I vividly remember that doing that first audition in my cheap £35 Tesco suit and seeing Simon Cowell sitting there in his Armani," he added.

"I don't think I'll ever wear it again but it will always be a reminder of where I was and where I attempt to remain - except in better clothes.

"I'm wearing a Burton suit today and I expect to continue buying Burton. I'm not hung up on labels, or being seen in the right shops and the right clubs.

"I'm not going to be part of that crowd - I've no intention of being one of these people that has labels here, labels there, with artificial tendencies and caught up in superficial things. I don't think I'll ever be that Hollywood person.

"I'm not going to change who I am. I want to remain an Everyman.

"All of this stuff that's happening now is just mind-blowing, it's crazy. But all the support I've had - from the people I've worked with or sold mobile phones to, to the general public as a whole - has been so humbling.

"I still can't believe it. I keep waiting for someone to pinch me and say, 'Wake up, Paul, it's time for work - you're late again'."

Potts, who toasted Sunday night's success with a glass of champagne and two swigs from a bottle of beer, has yet to hand in his notice with the Carphone Warehouse where he has worked for the past two years.

Instead, he is due back at work on Friday. Julie, his wife of 4 years, meanwhile, is already back working at the call centre in Port Talbot where the couple share a small, two-bedroom home.

Since winning the final of Britain's Got Talent, which was watched by over 12 million viewers, Potts is set to sign a recording contract with Cowell's label, Sony Bmg.

His remarkable rise to worldwide popularity may be attributed to his humble demeanor and "rags to riches" success.

"I'd like to deal with the teeth because I do feel very self-conscious about them," he told the Mail.

"It'd be nice to feel less self-conscious and to be able to smile with confidence."

See Paul's website.