"I didn't realise how much public support I had"
For someone whose first singing lesson was three weeks ago, it's been quite a ride for former Shortland Street actor David Wikaira-Paul.
"I'm happy I have come this far and what I've achieved," he said, speaking just a day after his shock elimination from Pop's Ultimate Star.
"I didn't realise how much public support I had," he said
"I stayed out of the bottom two for seven weeks. It would have been all the Tama fans," he laughed.
"Singing has always been a hobby of mine," he said, explaining why he agreed to be on the show. "To see what I can do."
However he said he was disappointed he didn't get a chance to show "my real potential as far as song choice", adding he would rather be singing R&B, Usher-type songs, than the rock songs he was handed by the judges.
To say nothing of the pressure he felt singing the Exponents classic made famous by judge Jordan Luck, Why Does Love Do This To Me.
"He kind of said nothing. I clearly didn't do it justice."
Now he was keen to get back into the acting side of things, and said he had two shows coming up in the next two months.
One of the most interesting things about the show was seeing how host Dominic Bowdon would switch onto being a live presenter. "He's just brilliant. I loved the Dom."
The best part of the show was "hanging out with all the guys. They all had something to offer."
Ben taught him how to relax before going on stage and Steve taught him patience during long days of filming, he said.
"Acting is a bit different, aye," he added, noting that in acting you can often have six or seven takes but when performing live on stage in front of the nation "you only have one shot".
And he said he was definitely keeping up the lessons. "I've got
one on Tuesday, and Thursday", he laughed.
