Paul Potts at Cork Opera House

Paul stole the hearts of the nation during the Britain’s Got Talent final in 2007, with a performance of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma. The tenor, who used to manage a phone store in Bridgend, South Wales, released his album ‘One Chance’ after the show and it soared to number one in thirteen countries (including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Mexico). It has now sold over three and a half million copies. In the UK, the record outsold the entire top 10 collectively in its first week.

In recognition of Potts’ meteoric ‘rags to riches’ rise to fame, his life story has been turned in to a movie, also titled ‘One Chance’. Award-winning comedian James Corden plays Paul alongside co-stars Julie Walters and Mackenzie Crook. The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival receiving a standing ovation and was released on October 25th.