W E all knew the Cinderella story about the man who toiled long hours at the Carphone Warehouse then won Britain’s Got Talent, a life-changing record deal and performed for the Queen.

But would Paul Potts the live performer match up to the fairytale the media world created?

Looking the epitome of humbleness he joined his seriously impressive orchestra on stage still displaying the body language of someone who simply cannot believe anyone would be interested in him.

Which proved part of the enigma and charm of this unlikely star who the moment he started to sing cast his spell.

He didn’t look like the matinee idol but as he sang several Mario Lanza songs belting out and holding those high notes on Be My Love and Loveliest Night of the Year he had ladies swooning.

His repertoire demanded powerful delivery and he displayed an incredible range to his Welsh tenor voice. The lower registers brought depth and shade whilst the higher notes brought excitement and awe. He shared funny stories with us about his incredible life but this was not a star trading on the back of a TV show; this was an absolute master of his craft. His passion and artistry put him up there with his idol Pavarotti.

He sang largely in Italian, from popular songs like Midnight from Cats to more obscure opera where subtitles would have helped, and his duets with the stunning Elizabeth Marvelly were breathtaking.

It ended on a real high with Time to Say Goodbye and Nessun Dorma: a truly uplifting show.