Britain’s Got Talent does love a good sob story... but I didn’t want this to be me
2020 WINNER JON COURTENAY TELLS MARION McMULLEN WHY HE KEPT HIS SKIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS QUIET AND REVEALS HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
You wrote The Mole Song after recovering from skin cancer. How was it performing on Britain’s Got Talent after learning of the diagnosis?
I kept it quiet. At the time I didn’t want it to be my story. BGT loves a good sob story, but I didn’t want this to be me.
I remember one of the nurses at the hospital saying when the show was on, “It’s the greatest moment of your career and the worst moment in your health”.
I wrote The Mole Song afterwards and, one of the greatest things about all this, is I’ve been able to do some charity stuff to make a bit of a difference. I’m very much healthy now and getting back to doing live shows.
What was it like becoming the first golden buzzer act to win the ITV contest?
I auditioned in London just before the show was heading to Manchester and there were only two golden buzzers left – Ant and Dec and David Walliams. I thought they would be saving the buzzers for the Manchester auditions, but it doesn’t work that way. I thought something had gone wrong, the piano has slipped or something, when I saw Ant and Dec running towards me. My son Nathan was on stage with me saying ‘Dad, dad you’ve done it’. I had no idea.
My sons Nathan and Alfie pushed me to audition. I think they just want to see me on TV. I had put it off for a long time. I had been performing for 25 years and I had a show that had a beginning, a middle and an end and I couldn’t see how I could do a three-minute slot until a friend suggested writing an original song about auditioning for BGT. I did that and sent it off and the next thing I know I was in the London auditions.
How did you celebrate?
My family could not be there to watch the final because of Covid restrictions, but I went back to the hotel bar and had a few drinks with Ant and Dec. They told me there would normally be a big after-show party and I was like ‘No, don’t tell me that.’ When I got home, we had a little street party in the cul-de-sac where I live. (Laughs) I’m still an embarrassment to my boy and my wife still thinks I can’t stack the dishwasher properly.
What was it like performing the Royal Variety Show in Blackpool under restrictions?
(Laughs) Well, there were no royals and no audience, but I had nothing to compare it to.
It’s such an amazing institution. It’s been going something like 120 years and I remember watching it on TV with my parents. There was Gary Barlow, Spice Girl Melanie C and Jason Manford on the show and everyone treated me very well, not just like a winner of a competition, but as someone who had served their time and got a break.
When did you start performing?
We had a piano at home and I was about five when I started playing. I’ve never really had a lesson.
Mum and dad did old-time music hall and amateur dramatics for fun. I did a comedy magic act when I was a kid, but had never really thought about music. (Laughs) I wanted to be Tommy Cooper not Bobby
Crush or Liberace. I was like ‘erm, I’m not sure’, but I grew up watching old footage of Victor Borge and there was Dudley Moore and Flanders and Swann. Now there is Bill Bailey and Tim Minchin – all funny with pianos.
What’s are your future plans?
I’ve been performing for Butlin’s up and down the country, and from September I am on tour with What’s It All About?
It’s been amazing to be back in front of a live audience and hearing people laugh again.
There’s something quite emotional about it. I’ve been getting to meet people after shows as well. I’ve always done that even when they didn’t want to chat to me back then.
Now people queue to chat and there are little kids who come along who are a little bit starstruck.
It’s very cute.
I did do some online events during lockdowns, but the problem is you can’t hear anyone. I had to put a Post-It note on the computer saying ‘Remember there is an audience out there’.
I was commissioned to write a song for Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones to mark the completion of the Olympic Steps at Wembley and I’m also writing a musical with someone, but I can’t say much about that at the moment.
There is TV stuff as well for next year. (Laughs) I’m just writing furiously.
I saw Ant and Dec running towards me. My son Nathan was on stage ... saying ‘Dad, dad you’ve done it’
Jon on getting the golden buzzer
■ Jon is at Bilston Town Hall on September 22