Voice star aims for a final spot

Craig sang his wife’s favourite song to make semis

Having wowed his harshest critic — wife Alli — Craig Ward has no fears about facing up to the semi-finals of The Voice this weekend.

The Coatbridge dad is just one step away from the talent show’s grand final after securing a spot in the last eight by nailing his performance of The Killers’ “All These Things I’ve Done” — Alli’s favourite song.

Craig’s latest performance saw him voted into the semi-finals by the public and earned a standing ovation from mentor Tom Jones, who told him: “You did a wonderful job and I am very proud of you.”

Every bit as important to Craig, though, was Alli’s critique of his rendition of a song close to her heart.

Craig, 31, told the Advertiser: “I hadn’t told her I was singing that song, which is the track she loves most.

“I felt even more pressure and kept thinking: ‘I hope I don’t forget any of the words or sing it badly’, as Alli wouldn’t be able to listen to it in the same way again.

“But I knew if Alli liked it, then it would mean I’d done a good job.

“Thankfully, she thought it was great and it was absolutely crazy when I was told I’d reached the semi-finals.

“I’m delighted to have that level of support and can’t wait for this weekend.”

The votes of his family and the general public “means the world” to Craig and he’s hoping for more of the same on Saturday.

He said: “Alli put the show on for Isaac [their one-year-old son] when she got home and he kept saying ‘daddy’.

“My brother Allan was in the audience and I couldn’t have gotten this far without the support and love of my family.

“My Twitter page just exploded and there was a lot of national pride on show from Scots across the country.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has voted for me. Here’s hoping their backing can help me all the way to the final.”

Craig is hard at work in the studio preparing for Saturday and his fellow remaining members of “Team Tom”, duo Dane Lloyd and Taylor Jones, aka Into the Ark.

He explained: “I’m spending a good bit of time with them and Tom is absolutely delighted with all three of us.

“On Sunday, we all got around the piano and started planning ahead for the semi-finals and you could see that Tom was genuinely proud of us.

“This means the world to me as Tom is so giving with his time, advice and support.

“I’ve become really close with the Into the Ark lads. We spend all day every day together and bounce off each other really well, both on the show and in the future.”

And what of the future for Craig as he stands on the threshold of a place in the grand final of one of Britain’s biggest talent shows televised to millions of viewers every week?

“For a guy like me to be in this position is surreal”, Craig said.

“This is the defining period of my life — not just my music career.

“The doors it would open within the music industry could give me the opportunity to support my family through music.

“I am grateful and very proud of getting this far. Now I want to take that final step.”

What a Killer performance Craig rendition of All These Things I’ve Done went down a storm with his wife Alli (right)