Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: TV and Film, Britains Got Talent
Jess Hardiman
The Britain’s Got Talent singer dubbed ‘Susan Boyle 2.0’ who got a standing ovation has responded to claims the show was ‘fixed’, having spoken about the incredible response to his performance on Lorraine.
Travis George, 22, blew fans away when he took to the stage at the weekend with an emotional performance of ‘Stars’ from Les Miserables.
The singer from South Wales left viewers in tears with his powerful rendition of the song, but he was later hit with claims the show was ‘fixed’ after it transpired that he has experience as an actor.
He has now responded to the backlash, saying he wanted to 'set the record straight' about his experience within the entertainment industry, having previously worked on BBC drama Casualty.
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Speaking to Christine Bleakley on Lorraine, he said it was all still ‘sinking in’.
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“I still can’t get over it,” he said.
George said he felt incredibly ‘nervous’ before going on stage, explaining that he is autistic.
He continued: “It's such a nerve-wracking thing, but I loved every second. Something I didn’t get the chance to speak about is that I’m on the autistic spectrum, and when you’re neurodiverse and you have those abilities - I say ability, not disability – you have your own process.
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“And mine, to get through performances when the anxiety hits you, I create a character in my head. That’s why I love theatre, to immerse myself and put some of myself in someone’s shoes.”
But he said his Britain's Got Talent performance marked the first time he could just be himself, without having to channel a character to get through it.
Later in the interview, George addressed the backlash he faced from viewers who claimed the programme had been ‘fixed’, joking: “My first controversy, it’s amazing!”
He went on: “I’ve got to set the record straight here. I've never been trained as an actor or a singer, I had no clue what I was doing when I got on that stage. Trust me, I didn’t.
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“Britain’s Got Talent had no idea about my very small amount of acting before I went on it - I had to tell them before I got the opportunity, that’s how famous I am, they didn’t even know.
“I haven’t been educated in the arts, I haven't even got any GCSEs.”
His mum explained how his autism had impacted his education, saying: “But he did a musical theatre exam and got a distinction.
“But it wasn’t training.”
George said he ‘couldn’t be happier’ with the feedback he received, both ‘the positive and the negative’.