SOUTH East Cornwall singer/guitarist Myles Evans will be seen battling it out tomorrow night in the next round of BBC1's The Voice.

The 26-year-old trainee lawyer from Latchbrook, Saltash, who had never performed on a stage before, got through the programme's blind auditions in January, choosing Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson as his mentor, ahead of Sir Tom Jones, who also invited him onto his team.

Myles' appearance has launched him into the spotlight, surprising a lot of his friends who didn't even know that he could sing and play guitar.

But he is not the only family member with a claim to fame – his dad, former First Division footballer Allan Evans played in the Aston Villa team which won the European Cup in 1982.

'He's a proper celebrity,' laughed Myles, when he spoke to The Cornish Times on Wednesday.

The battle round is pre recorded but the result is a closely-guarded secret until tomorrow night.

Myles' dad was in the audience along with his brothers Jamie and Ashley and sister Davida, who was responsible for secretly entering him into the auditions.

The battle stage will either see Myles progress through to the live shows round of the popular Saturday night show, or it could mean the end of his 'High Hopes,' the song he so successfully sang during the auditions.

Ricky has pitched Myles against the other singer/guitarist on his team, Max Murphy, and it will be up to him to choose which of the performers goes through.

The singer not chosen does, however, have a final chance as the other three judges can 'steal' him onto their team. However, they get just one steal, and after last week's battle rounds, Kylie Minogue is the only mentor with a steal left.

'We had plenty of time for rehearsals leading up to the battle which began meeting with Ricky and Katy B around the piano,' said Myles. 'I can't say what we sang, but it didn't go very well at that stage. I wasn't happy with the song Ricky had chosen as I wouldn't normally sing it, but I went away, rehearsed and changed it to my way, after which it didn't sound much like the original but I was a lot happier with it.'

Myles has, however, praised Ricky. 'I'm confident in every other aspect of my life but I find it tough putting myself out there, and nerve wracking when I'm performing,' he said. 'Ricky is trying to get me to believe in myself more and not hold back. I still get nervous but the fact that two mentors turned for me has validated that I can perform.'

Myles says he gets on really well with his battle partner Max, as they have similar personalities. 'We keep in touch,' he said.

Asked whether he was thinking of giving up the day job, Myles said it was sometimes tiring and stressful juggling his employment at Rosling King LLP in London, but he was continuing his work by taking days off for The Voice rehearsals as holiday. 'They have also given me some flexibility for extra time I have needed; they are really good about it and supportive,' he said.

Sunday will be Myles' 27th birthday so he is hoping it will be a double celebration.