Verity is 50 years of age from Grimsby and operates a singing school teaching children from age 5 at her home. She began singing in working men's clubs from the age of fifteen. From age nineteen her ex-husband and her formed a cabaret duo. During the 1980s they had struck a record deal in the US but they were unsuccessful in achieving a hit. Verity spoke of her only opportunity to claim fame on The X Factor: "I had opportunities when I was younger that I didn't take and I thought that was it for the rest of my life. It was my best friend who said Simon Cowell was doing a new talent show with older contestants. I eventually rang the audition line at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the very last day. It seemed like it was fate. Now that I've done it, I feel proud. I'm growing in my confidence everyday. This could change my life completely and make a dream come true."
Q & As
Occupation? Vocal Coach
Any formal training? No, well I had a dozen lessons when I was a teenager, but it’s mainly been through experience teaching people.
What part of the X Factor do you have? People have told me I’ve got a special sound in my voice and a very pure voice. Personality, I’m totally honest. I like to get everything off my chest.
Why will people vote for you? I’d like to think they’d vote for me because they like my voice and also because they like me as a person.
Best thing about your judge? He knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the music industry, I do believe he’s very good with that. He’ll tell me the truth even if it hurts. I have such trouble believing in myself and he said to me “you’re the weakest of the five” and I’ve thought all my life that I wasn’t good enough. As soon as he said that all those feelings came up and I couldn’t speak, but he told me the truth!
Why are you glad you didn’t get the other two? Glad didn’t get Louis because he said didn’t like me in the first audition and said I didn’t have the x factor, but I’m not glad I didn’t get Sharon because she’s nice.
What are your personal goals? I’d like to prove to myself that after all these years I can be successful with my singing. To be happy with a partner in life is a personal goal of mine. And this show will definitely help with my confidence and believing in myself.
Last CD? Andrea Bocelli.
What music would we be surprised you own? I just like lovely good singers, Celine Dion, Eva Cassidy, Journey, an American rock band from the 70s, Foreigner. That kind of thing.
Which artist do you most resemble or identify with? An Eva Cassidy type, but my first influence was Elton John. I used to sing all his songs, I love Skyland Pigeon which is an ld one of his.
What do you sing in the shower? I break into My Funny Valentine, I sing it sometimes to my dog!
What’s the one thing that would surprise the public about you? I suppose I seem prim and proper, so what is it about me that‘s not so prim and proper? Oh god, I am just prim and proper! I do talk a lot on the phone and have a bit of a wicked sense of humour. Also, I used to do children’s jingles when I was in America and sung in children’s voices, I sort of broke into that voice when I came out of the audition room the first time and said “I’m still shaking!”
What would be your one Diva request? I’d love to have my dog, William with me whenever I went.
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