FORMER labourer Craig Carter wowed judges on TV talent show The Voice on Saturday night.

The Billingham student, known simply as Carter, had judges Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Gavin Rossdale battling for his attention after his performance of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing".

The performing arts student, who is at Stockton Riverside College, said: "I always want to put on a good performance but this was something quite different."

Faced with singing to the back of The Voice UK’s four infamous chairs, he said: “The chairs are that big you can’t see anything and you have no idea what the judges are doing.”

The Voice sees singers perform blind auditions to four celebrity coaches. If the celebrities, all recording artists, turn their chairs it shows they are interested in working with that contestant and they go through to the next round of the show.

“I was nervous anyway because of the size of the crowd,” said the 29-year-old from Billingham. “But I stayed focused as I just knew it was something I had to do.

“I had started to think that they weren’t going to turn around.”

But moments later Gavin Rossdale, lead singer of the rock band Bush, hit the button, followed by Jennifer and finally Tom.

“I had already decided that if Gavin turned I would choose to work with him,” said Carter.  “When I got three it threw me.”

HE will now proceed to the TV show's battle rounds where he will go head-to-head with a fellow contestant.

Carter, who is studying a Foundation Degree in Performing Arts in partnership with Teesside University, first came to the attention of The Voice UK when the show’s talent scouts visited Stockton Riverside College.

He added: “To be honest I am that much of a laid back person I can come across like I’m not bothered, but I am excited, it just doesn’t always show.

“I want to take as much from this experience as I possibly can. I am learning every step of the way.”