Tom Jones the busker brings Covent Garden to a standstill

Sir Tom Jones brought Covent Garden to a standstill when he went busking as he showed his acts how it is done ahead of this weekend's live heat of The Voice.

The 73-year-old singer, who is a coach on the BBC One show, whisked semi-finalists Sally Barker and Bizzi Dixon down to the market in London to perform for passers-by today.

Sally brought her own acoustic guitar and she and her team-mate - and rival - Bizzi sang to a large crowd which gathered to watch.

And to ensure he did not let down the fans who stopped to watch, Sir Tom belted out his hits It's Not Unusual and Kiss.

Spectators were chanting 'Team Tom, Team Tom' as they watched the performances.

A programme insider said: "Sir Tom brought Covent Garden to a standstill - it was incredible. He really showed Bizzi and Sally how to do it.

"The impromptu busk-off was a great success and helped Sir Tom get the public behind his semi-finalists."

– Press Association

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.