Patrick James is proving he’s got the voice to succeed

Dealing with weight and sexuality were the easy bits. Now Patrick James aims to show he can sustain a career in the music business after his TV talent show success, writes Ed Power.

EVEN by the underdog-adoring metrics of reality television, Voice of Ireland winner Patrick James is an unlikely star-in-the-making. Prior to entering the RTÉ talent show he had never performed live.

He was overweight — still taboo in an industry where looks count for as much than artistic virtuosity. Since childhood he’s been dogged by low-self esteem. Were he to rock up at X Factor auditions, Simon Cowell would probably shake his head and sigh.