02 Jun 2024
The Garden Fields music teacher who wowed the nation with his vocal impressions on TV show Britain’s Got Talent needs YOUR support to win the competition.
Mike, 38, beat off rival act dancer Leightonjay Halliday after the decision on a place in tonight’s finals went to the public vote following a tie between judges Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.
He won over the studio audience and viewers at home with a routine featuring hits from the likes of Shakira, Cher, Shirley Bassey, Rick Astley, Take That and BGT judge Amanda Holden.
Harpenden-born Mike, who also teaches singing at St Albans-based Performing Herts, spoke to the St Albans Times while rehearsing for his final performance.
He said he had no inkling how well it was likely to go in Wednesday’s semi-final: “I was very pleased with rehearshals, and had received lots of supportive messages, but in the moment it feels very different and it was very tense.”
Pupils from Garden Fields appeared in a specially-filmed sequence ahead of his performance, but had no idea they were going to be on BGT: “We’d kept it a secret and said we were doing something mundane like a news report on school music, so it was really nice to see them having such a good time. By the end of the filming they were asking for lines and trying to direct the whole section!”
Mike has no idea what time he’s performing in tonight’s Grand Final show, which kicks off at 7.30pm on ITV: “It’s best not to find out too soon! I’ve got all new bits coming up, so more stuff to learn, I’m trying to show and do something new each time. Impressions for the adults, and silliness for the kids!”
He now needs the public to get behind him in order to win the £250,000 cash prize and a slot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance.
“I had a lady come up to to me this week and say, ‘We were just talking about you on [Facebook group] St Albans Mums!’ Thank you to everyone in St Albans for the lovely messages and comments. I can’t say enough how much it means to me. It’s just crazy how involved everyone wants to get in the competition!”
Register to vote here: https://www.itv.com/vote/bgt
Each mobile device gets five free votes on the app and you can vote by phone too (for an extra charge).
