29 May 2024
After a nailbiting stand-off for a place in the finals of Britain’s Got Talent, St Albans teacher Mike Woodhams won the public vote.
With the judges voting equally between singing impressionist Mike and dancer Leightonjay Halliday, the final decision went to the public, with Mike securing his place as runner-up to vocalist Sydnie Christmas.
Having performed a new routine of hits from the likes of Shakira, Cher, Shirley Bassey, Rick Astley, Take That and BGT judge Amanda Holden, Mike, 38, received top praise from the panel.
Alesha Dixon said: “The vocal gymnastics and the different tones and ranges that you had to go between was absolutely brilliant, it was like you were running a marathon, and you paced it brilliantly.”
Amanda added: “What was fantastic about tonight was that you physicalised so much… you really worked on your act, and I was very flattered that you did me!”
Simon said Mike’s performance received one of the biggest reactions of the night: “Tonight it’s going to be such a close competition, but right now I would put you at number one of the night.”
Mike, who is the music teacher at Garden Fields School, also teaches singing at St Albans-based Performing Herts. Pupils from Garden Fields appeared in a video ahead of his performance.
Following the news that he had reached the final, Mike said: “That’s absolutely insane! Thank you so much and thank you to everybody at home!”
If he wins on Sunday, Mike will receive a £250,000 cash prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance.
