Opera singer wins TV contest

Mobile phone salesman Paul Potts has been crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent for his version of Nessun Dorma.The show saw two million viewers cast their vote as co-host Ant McPartlin declared: "The whole country has gone Paul Potts potty."The 36-year-old from Port Talbot, South Wales, counts Pavarotti among his heroes and wowed judges with his opera singing.Contestants were competing for a £100,000 prize and a slot in this year's Royal Variety Performance.Potts said afterwards: "I feel like jelly. It means absolutely everything, thank you for believing in me."I don't think there's any way to describe this. It just leaves me speechless. Absolutely speechless."Judge Piers Morgan told Potts: "You've earned it, you've deserved it and I can't think of anybody I'd rather see represent this show at the Royal Variety Performance."The finale was the culmination of nine nights, 50,000 acts, five audition shows and three semi-finals.Potts beat six-year-old finalist Connie Talbot, from Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, who had been hotly tipped for the top spot.The gap-toothed youngster's rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow went down a storm with judges, with Cowell telling her: "Not only are you a great singer, you've got guts. You're brilliant."© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | June 18, 2007

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