Scottish firefighter Stevie McCrorie wins The Voice

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/apr/05/scottish-firefighter-stevie-mccrorie-wins-the-voice

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The Voice, BBC1’s televised singing competition, has been won by a 29-year-old firefighter from Clackmannanshire in Scotland. Stevie McCrorie beat off strong competition from Lucy O’Byrne in the grand final of the show on Saturday night. Also in the final were Emmanuel Nwamadi and Sasha Simone.

His debut single, made available at midnight on Saturday, is a cover of Lost Stars – originally by Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine.

McCrorie said his ultimate dream is to have a career in music, release albums and be a “successful and sustainable artist”.

The singer was coached by Ricky Wilson, singer with the Kaiser Chiefs, who was one of the four judges on this year’s show. The other judges were Tom Jones, Rita Ora and Will.i.am.

McCrorie added: “Hopefully I can provide a living for my family.”

Prompted by Wilson to reveal his real dream, McCrorie said: “My real dream is to get a house with a log fire in it.”

When asked about how previous winners have not enjoyed huge success, Wilson quickly replied: “Stevie hasn’t won it before.”

The talent show has come up short in the past in its bid to match the success of acts created by the X Factor, who traditionally release a single immediately after the show ends.

Leanne Mitchell, who won the first series of The Voice, flopped when her debut single failed to reach the top 40 and her album missed out on the top 100.

McCrorie said he is a “very determined” person.

Asked what his colleagues at the fire station will think, he said: “They were the guys that applied for me for this show.

“A lot of people have saw something in me that I didn’t see, and even standing up there I’ve still got that self doubt and I think it’s going to take a while to click in, to take in, that I’ve actually won The Voice 2015.”

Wilson said McCrorie has already been asked to perform at T in the Park at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire in July.Wilson said: “Stevie’s a typical Scotsman. Although on paper he was the favourite, all along he still felt like the massive underdog.”

McCrorie was the favourite to win the final, and bookmakers have quoted odds of 3/1 that his debut release goes to No 1 in the UK charts.