Britain’s Got Talent star Sydnie Christmas has beaten out all competition and won the final of the ITV variety talent show and the £250,000 grand prize.
But fans may not realise how the professional singer made ends meet for years before she found success on the show with Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer and ultimately, the backing of the public vote to beat out all the competition from dancers, magicians and the likes on Sunday night.
A huge controversy surrounding this year’s series is that Sydnie Christmas, 28, is actually a professional singer, and a ‘ringer’ hand picked to appear on the show before Amanda chose to put her through to the live semi-finals.
Indeed, Sydnie’s Spotify page already lists her as a ‘professional’ and she had an official single released in 2020 called ‘Heal Me’.
Sydnie Christmas on Britain’s Got Talent (Image: ITVX)
But what many may not realise is that Sydnie had to take on some very unglamorous jobs on her way to finding fame.
When Sydnie was 21 years old, she worked as a cleaner to make ends meet.
Speaking on her blog, Sydnie said: “Cleaning is just a side job for me. My actual line of work is performing. I sing, dance and act. I have worked as a lead vocalist on a royal Caribbean cruise ship which sailed all around the world.
“Working for royal was one of the best experiences of my life. I left at the young age of 19, and at such a bad time in my life. It has made me into the lady I am today. I was lucky enough to meet such amazing people, with some I can hand on heart honestly call my best friends for life.
“Recently I just finished a musical called ‘Lazarus’, For those of you who loved David Bowie you would have loved this. Lazarus was on at the Kings cross theatre in London. I was lucky enough to act along side the lovely Michael c hall, which some may recognise him in the Netflix series ‘DEXTER’ This was an amazing experience and helped me fully appreciate who David bowie was and what he gave to the world.”
Sydnie Christmas with Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli (Image: ITV)
It’s well known that Britain’s Got Talent acts are scouted to appear on the show but, the public vote is very real and they still have to win it fair and square of course.
Sydnie, 29, was on stage in London’s West End for the first time yesterday as she prepared for the release of new single Starlight Express on Friday. And in an unmissable Union Jack outfit, she told how the release is yet another pinch me moment for her – after Andrew Lloyd Webber encouraged her to record her own version.
Sydnie said: “I was in Starlight Express in Germany for years and it was such a huge part of my life. I have friends in the new London show and went to see them on their press night and was so blown away.
“The song ‘Starlight Express’ means hope and light. I felt drawn to its meaning and the song resonated with me. I just had to record my own version, and Andrew Lloyd Webber told me I should release it. I can’t believe it. It’s such a full circle moment. Every day is a new pinch-me moment and I’m getting to live out my dreams. I’m just the luckiest girl in the world.”
