FORMER Liberty X star Kevin Simm looks set for a second stab at singing
stardom after bookies revealed he is the favourite to win The Voice.
Fame could again come calling for the twice-time reality star who viewers
first saw on Popstars should he take the title in this weekend’s finale.
The previous episode saw him wow judges will.i.am, Paloma Faith, Boy George
and his mentor Ricky Wilson with his take on Adele hit Rolling in the Deep.
He will now battle it out against fellow contestants Jolan, Cody Frost and
Lydia Lucy for the 2016 title.
Betting company Coral said it was “one-way traffic” with 80% of
punters backing the star to take the crown – even with odds of 11-10.
They said Kevin, 35, was “one of the most popular contestants we had ever
had” in terms of cash being placed.
Coral’s John Hill said: Lots of punters backed the former Liberty X singer
early in the show and the money has kept on coming for him leaving the
bookmakers set for a huge pay-out if he does get crowned the winner in the
final.”
Meanwhile fellow bookies William Hill have the star at the top of their stake
list with the same odds.
Spokesman Joe Crilly said Kevin was the “obvious favourite” ever
since he stepped foot on the stage.
Both firms have Cumbrian singer Jolan, who wowed with his version of Purple
Rain in the semi-final, as second-favourite.
Coral’s odds are 5-2 while William Hill is offering 9-4.
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His chances of victory remain strong despite the fact he recently branded
the show “a pantomime”.
He was close to being dumped from the show when Paloma Faith binned him from
her choices though Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky quickly came in to bag him
for his group.
Discussing the process, Kevin ranted: “You get really good comments and they
build you up, and then you feel like you have been dumped. I should have
been happy to get a second chance but I kind of felt like I’d been screwed
around with.”
He told the Metro of his frustrations of being in a group and how he relished
the chance to go it alone.
He said: “It could get a bit depressing being in a group with three girls
singers because you’d be doing interviews and the journalist would ask:
‘What is the point of you being in the band’
“You’d get pretty p**sed off, people saying stuff like that. This is my
chance to shut those people up and show I can do it.”
The Voice will switch to ITV for its next series.
Famous faces including Robbie
Williams have been suggested to fill the judging panel, which remains
undecided.
The final kicks off on Saturday night at 7pm on BBC One – with a record deal
and single release awaiting the winner.