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The Voice Kids contestant 7-year-old Jimmy Aska Winch from Maidstone started out covering Madness in pubs aged 5

19:26, 14 July 2020

updated: 20:25, 14 July 2020

Little kids with high-pitched voices singing sweet songs may be cute, but they don't always give the most individual performances.

That's what makes youngsters like Jimmy Aska Winch from Yalding, near Maidstone, so special.

The seven-year-old's blind audition on the Voice Kids aired last weekend, and he had the whole crowd singing along.

Wearing a bow tie, denim shorts and a pair of Doc Martens, Jimmy strolled onto the stage before giving a fearless rendition of Blur's Park Life.

As the singer bobbed up and down, microphone in hand, the judges - Paloma Faith, Pixie Lott, Will.i.am and Danny Jones - clapped and nodded along to the classic Britpop tune.

Just over half way through the audition, Danny and Pixie pressed their buzzers, swivelling their chairs to face Jimmy.

Even after his performance, he was still entertaining the audience with his warm character and witty remarks, waving "hello to everyone through the TV" and revealing he'd "never actually met a celebrity before", in a charming cockney drawl.

Jimmy sang Park Life by Blur for his blind audition on the Voice Kids. Picture: ITV
Jimmy sang Park Life by Blur for his blind audition on the Voice Kids. Picture: ITV

Unable to choose which judge he wanted to be his mentor, Jimmy asked Pixie and Danny to play rock paper scissors to decide, with Danny winning.

He will now go on to 'battle' a fellow contestant in the next stage of the series.

Previously featuring on KentOnline in 2018 after taking the internet by a storm with his performances alongside various Ska bands, Jimmy has been hitting the stage since he was five.

It all started when he was in the pub with his dad, also called Jimmy and uncle, Joe.

He said: "I was at the pub - drinking an orange juice - and I started dancing so the band asked me if I wanted to sing with them."

He has since accompanied several musical groups, such as the Skatonics and Ocean Blue Big Band, in pubs, rugby clubs and at other events across the county.

Jimmy Aska Winch when he first started gigging aged five with his dad, also Jimmy
Jimmy Aska Winch when he first started gigging aged five with his dad, also Jimmy

Home-schooled by his dad for now, Jimmy also goes to the Amelia Appleby School of Performing Arts, and does everything from drama and musical theatre to tap and ballet.

"I'm an all round performer - I'm a triple threat, me," said Jimmy.

During the show, his dad, 41, said: "Jimmy's a one off - one of a kind - he's only seven years old but it doesn't matter where Jimmy goes or what he is doing, he always lights up a room."

After watching his son on the show at the weekend, he said: "It was amazing - definitely a proud dad moment. We've had so many supportive messages on Facebook - my phone actually went hot in my hand there were so many coming through. It's been overwhelming."

Jimmy added: "It was brilliant - I loved seeing all my friends on the TV too. I was excited before going on stage."

Jimmy, whose favourite artists include Queens of the Stone Age, Jamie T and Gorillaz, also enjoys practising the drums, playing the ukulele and recently, having lots of barbecues.

This was the first week of the blind auditions, which were filmed before lockdown.

No information on the live shows has been given yet but the next round of auditions air on Saturday, July 18 at 7.25pm on ITV1.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone

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