A 48-year-old soul singer is successfully through to the next round of BBC singing competition, The Voice.

Appearing on last night’s blind auditions, Gary Poole, from Friday Hill, Chingford, managed to impress two of the four judges, Ricky Wilson and Tom Jones, with his rendition of The Zutons’s song, Valerie.

On the show Tom Jones said: "He can sing, and that's what I like."

The part-time university lecturer chose to join Tom Jones’ team and is now through to the next round where he will sing against another member of the team.

The father of three has previously had a number one single in the UK soul charts and has supported Prince and Michael Jackson at Wembley Arena with his group D’Influence.