SHE’S more used to singing to the dogs at the grooming parlour where she works.
But when Ava Mannings decided to try her luck on TV talent show The Voice UK she found a much more appreciative audience.
All of the celebrity coaches on the show made a bid to add Ava to their teams, putting her through to the main competition on the 13th series of the hit show.
It means family, friends and customers of Top Groom in Downend will be able to follow Ava’s fortunes as she bids to win the potentially life-changing competition.
Ava appeared on the second episode of the latest series of the show, in the ‘blind audition’ stage where the celebrity coaches – will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes, Sir Tom Jones and the joint team of McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones – sit with their backs to each contestant as they hear them sing for the first time. Coaches who want to add a singer to their team turn their chair around.
Early in her performance of Damn Your Eyes, by Etta James, Tom and Danny turned around for her, followed soon after by the others. All of the coaches showered her with praise, with will.i.am telling her: “You’re going to put Bristol on the map.”
LeAnn told Ava her performance was “stunning”, beautifully executed and had “incredible feeling”.
Sir Tom said: “You’re unique in yourself and I love that.”
Danny told her: “I don’t think you realise how good that was – that was absolutely impeccable, it was unbelievable.
“You’re a one-off.”
Ava chose Danny and Tom to be her coaches on the show, which was filmed between October and June this year. The result is a closely-guarded secret.
Ava grew up in Fishponds, Downend and Frenchay, and attended Chester Park Infant School, Hambrook Primary School and Winterbourne Academy.
She first performed on stage for Staple Hill-based St Mary’s Players, and says her love of singing goes back as far as she can remember.
Ava’s first stage performance was in a production of The Sound of Music by St Mary’s Players in 2014, where she played one of the von Trapp children.
She also performed as the voice of Audrey the killer plant in Bristol Amateur Operatic Society (BAOS) Youth’s production of Little Shop of Horrors in 2018.
Ava, 21, was also inspired by a member of staff at Hambrook Primary School, Sue Cessford, who led the school choir.
Sue, who passed away in 2020, encouraged Ava to sing after hearing her humming.
Ava took part in school productions at Winterbourne Academy but after leaving school she cut short plans to study music.
She said: “I wanted to start working, paying bills and getting my own flat.”
During two years of working as a groomer Ava has sung publicly at the occasional event, including one-off gigs and funerals, “where it means the most”.
She also sings to the dogs at the grooming parlour “to make it through the day”.
Even though she knew the result, Ava watched the ITV show nervously when it was screened in September.
She said: “I was sitting there biting my lip, not knowing what they were going to put on – it was a crazy experience.
“I still feel extremely lucky to have had those chairs turn around for me, and very privileged.”
Top Groom owner Caroline Clancy said: “Ava is singing all the time, the whole day, when she’s here. She’s a lovely, lovely girl – she’s also amazing with the dogs
“Although she’s potentially not going to be back with us, we’re really rooting for her 100% – she’s an amazing kid.”
Ava will next appear on The Voice UK in October – the show screens on Saturdays at 8.30pm and is available to stream via ITV’s website.