Staff and pupils at the former school of Strictly Come Dancing star HRVY will be among the millions tuning him to watch him in the final.

The singer from Hartley, who became a YouTube sensation while still studying at The Leigh Academy in Dartford, will be competing for a chance to lift the glitter ball trophy this weekend.

The 21-year-old has won over a legion of new fans by taking part in the BBC hit show with professional dancer Janette Manrara.

And his former vice principal Kevin Brewer says how HRVY - whose real name is Harvey Cantwell - comes across on TV is exactly how they remember him.

He added: "The big thing for us is how polite and humble he has come across. It makes us proud as a school.

"He was one of the lesser known celebrities but he has won people over with his dancing and his personality."

HRVY attended the academy from 2010 to 2015 - when alongside his studies he became a singing sensation and signed a record deal. He released his first single in 2013 and supported Little Mix on tour the following year.

He has gone on to support The Vamps, performed at the Radio 1 Teen Awards and presented CBBC's Friday Download. He has more than two million Youtube subscribers and 4.5 million followers on Instagram.

In 2019 HRVY caused a stampede while appearing at Bluewater and the event had to be stopped by security after just a few minutes.

Mr Brewer, who also taught Harvey PE, said he didn't let his success go to his head, adding: "He wanted to be treated like everyone else. He kept Harvey the schoolboy and the musician separate. He was a brilliant pupil - quiet and very humble.

"He had to balance school work with his music but he worked hard. There was no arrogance about him - his parents wouldn't have allowed that. He had his head screwed on. His family were very supportive, but they kept him grounded.

"He stuck to his circle of friends, he wasn't HRVY the big star when he was at school, it wasn't like that."

Harvey's former head of college Stuart Lindars said: “I asked him several times if he wanted to sing in assembly or at one of the award evenings but, ever humble, he always declined politely, preferring to focus on his studies rather than entertain his peers.

"Harvey took school in his stride and was one of the kindest, nicest students who would always ask how you were doing."

HRVY, who had to postpone the release of his first album this year, has dazzled the judges and the public with his weekly performances on Strictly with one judge saying his debut was the best first dance ever.

He almost didn't make it to the first show after contracting Covid-19 and had to isolate at his family home in Hartley.

Leigh Academy has been following Hrvy's progress and keeping pupils and staff updated in its weekly newsletter and on social media - and of course urging them to vote.

Mr Brewer said: "For something like this it would have been the chance to have assemblies and all get behind him that way but we obviously can't do that at the moment.

"There are quite a few teachers still here who taught Harvey. We are all really excited about him being in the final, just gutted we can't go to watch him. Not even his family have been able to go up to watch him."

He added: "We are incredibly proud of how well he has done to make it to the final.

"The fact that he was more pleased he had helped his professional dance partner Janette Manrara get to her first final shows the type of character he is.

"My daughter is a huge fan and I have taken her to see him perform. He always takes the time to talk to fans and is interested in what they have to say. He is genuinely the real article."

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