Paul Potts Biography
Paul Potts, was born in Bristol 1971. For several years he worked as a shelf stacker in Tesco's and tried unsuccessfully to make it as a full time singer.
However, Paul became the first winner of ITV's Britain's Got Talent and instantly shot to fame. Since his TV performance, he has signed a record deal and become a well known celebrity.
The life of Paul Potts is a real rags to riches story. Previous to appearing on "Britain's Got Talent" Paul was dogged by illness and misfortune.
For example, he spent most of his savings on receiving singing lessons, including taking part in a Luciano Pavarotti masterclass. This cost him upto £20,000 and although he was given encouragement he was never able to get a paid job out of it.
In 2003 he had to receive hospital treatment for a benign tumour . Shortly after this operation, he broke his collar bone in a bike accident. He spent many months lying on the sofa in great pain. However, he was encouraged by friends to give the new ITV series a go. With little to lose and no high expectation, Paul auditioned and made it through various stages to the final. His first performance was in Wales at the Millenium Centre on 17th March. He sang a rendition of Puccini's aria from Turandot. His performance ended with a standing ovation from the 2,000-strong audience.
Even before he had won the final, he had been receiving much media interest.
Since the final Paul has travelled to many countries around the world. In a recent Canadian interview Paul said:
"I have done more things in the last four months than I would ever have expected to do in my whole lifetime," Potts told Reuters in an interview. "It's mind-boggling." His schedule includes many performances and TV interviews - He has recorded a performance for Opera Winfrey
* Paul Potts Biography at BBC
* Paul Potts - homepage
Paul Potts Speaks