Former City and Islington student Vangelis squares up for The Voice battle round

Vangelis Poludorou, 24, will be appearing on the battles round on BBC One this Saturday night.

The first round of the battles sees coaches Boy George, Paloma Faith, Ricky Wilson and will.i.am pair their artists up to compete against each other.

Each coach must then decide which artist will progress to the knockout stage and who will be sent home.

Vangelis, born in Archway, first discovered his gift when he auditioned for a role in a choir at aged four and was accepted.

He told the Gazette: “My mum took me to a choir audition in Upper Street to help me come out of my shell more. I was really shy but during my audition I was told I had perfect pitch and it just really started from there.

“Because I was shy I didn’t really have any solo pieces while I was there but it was my first taste of the industry.”

Vangelis later went on to study at City and Islington College where he rubbed shoulders with other future stars.

“It was a good experience once I got there,” he said. “[French-born singer-songwriter] Delilah was in my year when I was there. I think she was actually signed at the time.”

The BBC show’s “blind auditions” round was nerve-wracking because Vangelis was worried no one would select him to go through – but three out of the four coaches ended up vying for him to join their teams.

“People at home think everyone gets to go before the coaches,” he said, “but there are actually quite a few rounds before.

“About 43,000 auditioned but only 120 got through to the blind auditions to see the coaches.

“I wanted to be on team Boy George because I relate to him more than the others.

“He and Paloma Faith are more close to my type of music.”

Vangelis has since quit his job to pursue music full time. “It would be great to have an album and make a living from that,” he said.

“Those are my plans – but I’ll be happy whatever happens.”

The Voice is on BBC One at 7pm on Saturday