Viv Hardwick talks to George Sampson about Britain’s Got Talent’s tour to Newcastle.
"IT’S incredible this year, the dance groups are amazing and the solo acts are stunning as well,”
says last year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner, George Sampson, when we discuss the forthcoming tour to the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, on Wednesday. The 15-year-old is guest starring at the sell-out event which will feature the winners, Diversity, the surprise voice of Susan Boyle and other dance acts such as Flawless, Stavros Flatley and Aidan Davis.
“Luckily, although all the other dancers are incredible it doesn’t intimidate me because it’s very different to what I do,” says George, who is considering stepping out alongside 11-year-old Aidan Davis.
The even younger performer had revealed during this year’s contest that he practised in secret after being inspired by George’s win last year.
“People have said he looks a little like me, and it’s so good if they thought he was my younger brother,” jokes George.
Reflecting on his year as champion, with a main prize of dancing at the Royal Variety Performance, George says that he approached the pressure of performing in front of millions of people with the attitude of “no pain, no gain. It was a lot to take on, but I’ve managed it.”
He claims that the idea of earning a lot of money doesn’t matter to him at the moment, even though he and his mum moved down from Warrington to London to take up offers such as performing in the West End and flying out to the US for a TV appearance.
Apart from buying an iPod his biggest expense is hiring freelance dance and drama tutors.
As he approaches his 16th birthday, I ask him about girlfriends and George replies: “It will happen, I will get a girlfriend, but for now I want to concentrate on other things and get my life sorted out first. I’m rehearsing most days for the tour and I tend to revise (he’s sitting A-levels in business, computer studies, English and maths) later when my brain’s calmed down a bit.”
And for the record, George’s tip for the final was 2 Grand.
■ Britain’s Got Talent – Live Tour. Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle. Wednesday. Check 0844-493-6666 or ticketmaster.co.uk for ticket availability.
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