Plymouth's Got Talent

I watched, for the first time, an entire episode of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday. I must confess this was primarily because I love new judge Michael McIntyre and was expecting him to be entertaining. What I wasn't expecting was this:
(You'll have to click on the link for the video because YouTube won't let me post it here)

As a proud Plymouthian I was amused to see Michael Collings rock up in his tracksuit, as if he had just been passing the train station that morning and thought "sod it, I'm going to Cardiff to audition for Britain's Got Talent. I'll get some muffins in the Spar to tide us over and we'll be back by teatime".

People have had a bit of a giggle at his relaxed attire, his "posh caravan site" home, and his Buffet City proposal to his fiance but do you know what? I love that this is who is representing our city, and not just because of his interesting, soulful, soothing voice.

Looking past the "sherbet leisurewear" I see a warm, funny and humble guy, representative of so many people who live in Plymouth, people I sit next to on the bus every morning, people I queue behind in the Co-Op and people who I watch fireworks with 'op the 'Oe every summer. According to his interview in The Herald, Michael says he might smarten up his look to a pair of jeans if he wins the show and performs in front of the Queen at the "what's it called again?" Royal Variety Show. I don't even know if I want him to do this, I vote he embraces his inner Plymouthian and goes onstage with his top off, hanging off the waistband of his joggers.

There's been a lot of talk about Michael being favourite to win the show - I doubt there are many people left in the country who have not seen the audition - but it's early days yet (remember early press for both Gamu and Danyl of X Factor fame) so I call for Plymouth to get behind our act and keep the support going strong!

GEDDON MIKE-O, YOU CAN DO IT!

BGT

As I've mentioned before, Britain's Got Talent is not my bag.

However... I was round my friends last night and it was on in the background. Suddenly, mid-way through the conversation we both stopped talking and found ourselves staring open mouthed at the TV before collapsing with laughter at this guy:

Kevin Cruise. He's orange. He's doing a medley. He's got a cardboard cruise ship taped to a skateboard. What's not to like?

I'm ashamed to admit I got a taste for it then, and ended up watching the rest of the episode. So just to rebalance our chakras, here's someone good:

Tobias Mead. He's cute, he's dancing like a robot and he's called Tobias. I want him in my life.

There was a girl singing White Cliffs of Dover and all the papers had a hoo ha about her being too young to sing such an emotive song, and there was a little drummer boy whose Mum & Dad formed a band with him. Mum chose her outfit for the performance from her Ann Summers collection. The parents were booed off and the kid got through on his own. Throw in a couple of camera-shy animals with mental owners, a few ugly people who the audience jeered until they displayed some actual talent, a pensioner and a gaggle of scantily clad dancers and there's your episode done.

And just to end on a high note (literally), check out Lin Yu Chun, who has been called "Taiwan's answer to Susan Boyle" for his surprise performance on a Taiwanese singing competition and I'm sure was thrilled to earn himself the nickname "Little Fatty". I think I want to adopt him.

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