An everyman delights everyone

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PAUL POTTS
Where: Winspear Centre
When: Wednesday night (March 19)

EDMONTON - Paul Potts is the anti-Il Divo: far from being carefully market-researched and groomed for mass audiences, he's a funny little guy who, less than a year ago, was selling cellphones in England.

But, as it turns out, England's Got Talent. Potts won the televised talent competition last year, and suddenly he's an international sensation, as much for his underdog story as for his voice.

Now, he's on a North American tour, with Paul Potts merchandise being sold in the lobby like he was a rock star. You can get T-shirts, CDs, glossy photos and even teddy bears bearing his likeness, all selling well despite his podgy, ordinary appearance.

But as he says during his performance, "I've learned never to say no to something I haven't tried before."

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