Bognor Red Coat encouraged by The Voice experience

Performing in the last Blind Audition episode, the 19-year-old former Bognor Butlins Red Coat sang John Newman’s Come and Get It.

Boy George, one of the celebrity coaches, said: “I loved your performance. You are a good singer and you should definitely, definitely carry on doing what you are doing.”

Singer Paloma Faith added: “Well done mate, keep going.”

But none of the four celebrities pressed their buttons to turn and choose Sam, 19, for their team.

Celebrity coach Ricky Wilson said it was obvious he was a seasoned performer because the crowd were on their feet joining in.

“You weren’t doing an impression of him, I’m not saying that, but you were doing what he does on that song,” he added.

“So the song choice was excellent for showing that you can do that but not excellent enough for me to turn around because I didn’t see anything different. I wasn’t sold on it.

“This is where you are supposed to be. Today wasn’t your day, tomorrow is the start of something else.”

Speaking after the audition, Boy George said: “It is a very hard thing to have no-one turn but what you do with that ‘no’ is as important as what you do with a ‘yes’.”

Sam recently left Butlins and starts a new job at a holiday park in Torquay today.

“My new job is more singing based so I am still doing what I’m doing,” he said.

“The Voice was a long process but overall it was an amazing experience. They have asked me to go back next year.”

Sam, who is originally from Stoke-on-Trent, said on the show that he wanted to become an artist that people will remember for ever.

“Being a Red Coat is a bit like being a celebrity. Kids recognise you all the time, adults recognise you all the time. I can understand why celebs like being celebs.”

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