ITV show Starstruck returned to screens on Saturday as series two kicked off on Feburary 18 with singers across the country transforming from their everyday persona to that of a global musical superstar whom they admire.
Kicking off the show were three men whose musical hero was none other than Tom Jones. And their voices blew away the judging panel of Adam Lambert, Beverly Knight, Jason Manford and new judge Shania Twain. Queen frontman Adam said he was "really impressed" but it was country pop music legend Shania who was most enthusiastic as she gushed over their performance, which she said "embodied Tom Jones".
After singing the hit It's Not Unusual, Mark, Steve and Mel turned to the judges for some feedback on their performance, and Shania didn't hold back.
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She told the trio: "Tom Jones had the sexiest voice ever. And he'll still be sexy at 200. You all have that very gutsy deep manly voice, you really embodied the Tom Jones way of just capturing a crowd. I think you're just really hot guys."
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Jason chimed in: "And that's saying something cause even Brad Pitt doesn't impress her", a reference to her enormous hit song That Don't Impress Me Much.
Laughing, the 57-year-old country star said: "Yeah, like who do you think you are, Tom Jones?"
And it seems viewers were also taken aback by the likeness in the three men's singing voices to the icon Mark described as "vocal royalty". Taking to Twitter, fans of the 82-year-old superstar flooded the social media platform with messages of awe.
@stuartshawcross wrote: "Number 1 Tom Jones has the voice! #starstruck" Another added: "Tom Jones is one of the best #starstruck"
A third, @robin101962, commented: "Have to say the voices are there. Good #tomjones vocals. #starstruck"
Soon after Shania's glowing feedback, Jason Manford gave the three men his two cents and said Tom Jones should be called "Welvis" as he is the Welsh Elvis.
"Tom Jones is the voice. That full throttle baritone, he's the Welsh Elvis. He's like Welvis - what he should be called. And the other thing that you're dealing with is that sex appeal. Women throw knickers at him on stage!"
Viewers loved this, with one voting to start a petition for Sir Tom to change his name. They wrote: "'He's like Welvis' - Somebody start a petition for Tom Jones to legally change his first name to that please. #Starstruck"
However, in the end, it was not meant to be for our three Toms and after hearing three other teams perform as Taylor Swift, Chaka Khan and Sam Smith, the judges voted for Team Sam Smith to progress to the next round in the competition, and be in with a chance of winning £50,000.
Starstruck continues on ITV1 and ITVX next Saturday. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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