Norwich has a second TV talent show star in the pipeline.

Last Saturday night Spixworth's Sam Kelly wowed the Britain's Got Talent judges and next weekend it will be the turn of 23-year-old Bill Downs to grab the limelight.

The former Sprowston High School student is set to appear on the BBC's new talent show, The Voice.

Similar to the X-Factor in style, the show has a judging panel featuring Welsh singing legend Tom Jones, pop star Jessie J, Black Eyed Peas supremo Will.I.Am and the singer of Irish band, The Script, Danny O'Donoghue.

The difference is that the four stars hear the shows auditions with their backs turned, so they do not judge the performer on their looks. Once they have decided they like the performer, they then press a button and their chair turns round.

Last weekend Gorleston's Toni Warne appeared on The Voice and got three of the coaches to turn around, before choosing to join Jessie J's team.

Now Mr Downs is the next Norfolk candidate hoping to shine on stage.

He also plays with local band, The Tracks, and hosts the open-mic nights on the last Wednesday of the month at The Dog House pub, on St Georges Street.

Landlord Danny Smith, 29, said: 'He's a very down to Earth lad. He's a crowd pleaser and really does have a God given-talent, so It's nice that he's going to get exposure from The Voice.

'He plays a lot of styles, he's very Ed Sheeran-esque but has a lot more in his locker because he's very versatile.

'With all the local talent in the area, hopefully Bill will be one of the first to put a face to the Norwich music scene, because it really is booming.'

Mr Downs was featured in the Evening News in January after featuring in a music video shot at different sites around Norwich by Estonian producer Teele Killing, who graduated from City College Norwich in 2010.

Performing alongside local rapper and singer, Arnob Basit, the video featured artistic shots of London Street, Elm Hill, Mousehold Heath and the River Yare.

Stuart Warren, manager at the Angel Gardens, another of the pubs Mr Downs runs a monthly open-mic night at, agrees that Norwich could have another music star in the making.

He said: 'Bill never fails to disappoint, he's very talented and you know he is going to give 100pc.

'It doesn't really surprise me that he's going to be on The Voice, it probably surprises me more that it's taken him this long to make it on to one of these shows, but he deserves all the success he gets.'

Mr Downs is due to appear on The Voice next Saturday, which is on BBC One from 7pm.

- To watch a video of Mr Downs playing live, go to www.eveningnews24.co.uk

- Do you know Mr Downs or have you seen him perform? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk