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Stephen Cornwell, from Dartford, through to the next round of The Voice UK

A Dartford heartthrob got through to the next round of The Voice - but not before Rita Ora copped a feel of his biceps.

Stephen Cornwell, of Waltham Road in Dartford sang the 5SOS song She Looks So Perfect to impress the judges on Saturday.

Rita and Will.i.am both turned for the 23-year-old and Sir Tom Jones described his voice as "pretty".

Stephen singing near the Dartford Crossing for one of his YouTube videos
Stephen singing near the Dartford Crossing for one of his YouTube videos

Stephen, who revealed he eats 70 eggs a week and works out regularly to maintain his physique, impressed both the judges on sight as well.

After choosing to be coached by Will.i.am, Rita conceded that it was the best move as they "probably wouldn't get any work done" if she was coaching the former footballer. But she did give his biceps a squeeze before he left the stage.

Also impressed Will.i.am suggested the two of them could work out together.

The wannabe pop star is already on his way to YouTube stardom – attracting over two million hits on his online channel featuring music videos filmed around Dartford.

Looking back on his blind audition he said: “Going on that stage was one of the most nerve-racking things I have ever done.

Stephen said the moments before the performance were the most terrifying of his life
Stephen said the moments before the performance were the most terrifying of his life

“I wasn’t expecting to get this far. All my friends pushed me to get on the show – it’s all down to them really.

“They don’t tell you that you’re next on stage until ten minutes before. That ten minutes was the longest ten minutes of my life. I couldn’t stop pacing up and down.

“The nerves do get to me, and it is something I need to work on. The first 10 to 15 seconds I didn’t enjoy ... but after that I was loving it. I have never heard so many girls scream at me like that.

“The audience just went crazy. If it wasn’t for them I probably wouldn’t have done as well.”

Stephen works with his brother to get one or two music videos uploaded every week – many of which are set around Dartford. He has performed an acoustic cover of pop hit Rude by MAGIC! in front of Dartford Crossing.

It all started for Stephen when he got involved in Karaoke competitions when he was six – but admitted that he never saw music as his passion until he hit his teens.

The singer has lived in Dartford all his life, and continues to live with his parents
The singer has lived in Dartford all his life, and continues to live with his parents

He reckons his musical side is all down to his mother, who was singer in 70s folk band Mable Joy. “Her band was quite successful at the time,” he said. “I saw her performing and thought I have to have a go at that as well.

“When we are in the studio she will sometimes give me tips too, which is pretty cool.”

However, music wasn’t always Stephen’s dream industry. At Loughborough University he had a spell as a professional footballer for Queen’s Park Rangers youth academy.

“The audience just went crazy. If it wasn’t for them I probably wouldn’t have done as well" - Stephen Cornwall

But tragedy struck for the young striker when after only a few games he snapped his achilles tendon – slamming the door on his sporting career.

“It was devastating”, he said. “But at the same time I think it was meant to be.

“I wasn’t able to play football anymore, so I decided to pick up the guitar and learn a few chords. Before I knew it I started gigging around the university.”

Stephen is urging people to watch his performance on Saturday, revealing that parts of his slot are worth a watch. “It is going to be funny,” he said. “There was a lot of banter between the judges.”

You can watch Stephen on BBC One at 7.15pm on Saturday.

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