HOWZAT

Paul first sang opera at the age of 28 for a karaoke competition, when he dressed up as Pavarotti.

He went on to perform in Michael Barrymore's show My Kind Of Music - winning £8,000. He estimates he has spent £20,000 in total to attend various training courses in Italy.

From his Italian opera class he was selected to sing for Pavarotti and Katia Ricciarelli.

Potts has performed in four semi-professional operas in the UK and some concerts. His proudest performance was in front of 15,000 people.

He returned to the stage two weeks after having an operation to remove a benign tumour after having appendicitis.

A motorbike accident in 2003, in which he broke his collar bone, kept him away from performing and since his illness he has struggled with money, according to the show.

He met wife Julie, 26, in an internet chatroom and the pair have been married for four years.

Paul previously worked for Tesco.

Also performing in the final were 11-year-old singer Bessie Cursons, ventriloquist Damon Scott, breakdancers The Kombat Breakers and bar flamers The Bar Wizards.

Some of the show's contestants have been caught in controversy.

Singing impressionist Richard Bates, 27, from Blackpool, was axed from the prime-time ITV show after Lancashire Constabulary advised producers he had a conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Bates was placed on the sex offenders' register and given a two-year conditional discharge when he was sentenced at Preston Crown Court in December 2005, a police spokesman added.

He is due to come off the register at the end of July, two years after he was convicted at Bolton Crown Court.

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