Pianist who saw his headmaster stabbed at gates wins BGT final
A PIANIST who witnessed his headmaster being murdered has been crowned the winner of Britain’s Got Talent.
Tokio Myers beat magician Issy Simpson, comedian Daliso Chaponda and eight other acts to the title on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old collapsed in disbelief when it was announced he had won £250,000 and the chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance.
The musician, whose real name is Torville Jones and who grew up on a council estate, had a difficult childhood and chose to practise music instead of getting involved with gangs.
He was just 11 when he saw his headmaster Philip Law- rence, 48, being stabbed to death by a gang member in 1995 at the gates of St George’s High School in Maida Vale.
He had been practising the piano in the school at the time, and was rushed to safety by another teacher.
Instead of ending up in ‘gangs and jail’ like many of his peers, Myers focused on music and became a successful session pianist. He later joined the band Mr Hudson and the Library, which supported acts including Amy Winehouse, Sting, The Police and Kanye West.
Following his Britain’s Got Talent win, Myers picked himself up from the ground and hugged runner-up eight-year- old Miss Simpson, before saying: ‘What is going on? I can’t believe what’s just happened.’
His performance in the ITV show’s final combined a variety of musical styles including classical piano, futuristic sounds and drumming. He also brought on a choir to accompany him for his rendition of Rag N Bone Man’s hit Human.
Judge David Walliams called the act the ‘performance of the night,’ while Simon Cowell said: ‘As a talent, as a person, Tokio right now, this was the most important thing for him, I’m thrilled for him.’ The live final was meant to air last night but was moved to Saturday night so it would not clash with the One Love Manchester Ariana Grande benefit concert.
Once again Amanda Holden’s dress attracted comments. Her outfit on Thursday’s show was slashed to the navel and had a completely open back, prompting 216 complaints to Ofcom.
For the final she wore a white gown which was much more demure – although it baffled some viewers who thought it looked like a wedding dress.