Jermain Jackman defies bookies to clinch victory on The Voice
Will.i.am hugs Jermain Jackman as he wins The Voice, with Emma Willis, Marvin Humes - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy - Credit: BBC/Guy Levy
Jermain Jackman beat the bookies’ odds as he was crowned winner of the BBC’s primetime singing contest, The Voice, landing a major record deal.
Will.i.am and Jermain Jackman perform together - (C) Wall To Wall - Photographer: Guy Levy - Credit: BBC/Wall To Wall
The 19-year old from Hackney was the outsider to win the final, according to the Easyodds comparison site - with a probability of 8/1.
Will.i.am and Jermain Jackman perform together - (C) Wall To Wall - Photographer: Guy Levy - Credit: BBC/Wall To Wall
But he pipped his opponents - Christina Marie, Sally Barker and Jamie Johnson - to the post, leaving his mentor, Blackeyedpeas rapper will.i.am almost in tears when the results of the public vote were announced.
Over seven million viewers were tuned in to watch as Jermain put his head in his hands in disbelief as his name was announced by host Marvin Humes.
He told viewers: “I want you guys to know, work hard for your dream and you will achieve it.”
You may also want to watch:
He had sung the Miley Cyrus hit Wrecking Ball and Pure Imagination, from the 1971 film Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, which he performed with will.i.am.
During the series the Labour Party activist revealed his ultimate ambition is to become “the first singing black prime minister”, and he met Labour leader Ed Miliband on a radio show.
Most Read
- 1 Pastor Morris tribute: 'We don’t know what would have happened to us if it wasn’t for him'
- 2 'Heads need to roll', says domestic violence campaigner after 'reckless' council data blunder
- 3 £5.75m investment agreed for "historic" Clapton leisure centre
- 4 'It's like toilet', say Dalston residents who have had enough of broken locks, rats and scaffolding
- 5 Students earn scholarships at top schools worth £150,000
- 6 Massive drugs haul suspected to be worth over £1million seized in Hackney
- 7 Dangerously overloaded vans leaving New Spitalfields Market taken off the road
- 8 Key road closed: Hackney and Islington travel news July 31 - August 6
- 9 Drug dealer who killed "beloved" Hackney father convicted
- 10 Anti-lockdown and vaccination camp remains in Hackney Downs after a week
Mr Miliband tweeted his “huge congratulations” following Jermain’s victory, telling him: “Knew you were an incredibly special singer from the first time I heard you.”
Jermain has been flooded with well wishes from other politicians and celebrities, including Cheryl Cole, who called will.i.am while the show was live on air to congratulate the teenager on his performance.
Hackney Speaker, Cllr Michael Desmond, promised there would be a party at the town hall if he won, but the date has not yet been set.
