I’m living the life I always wanted thanks to Britain’s Got Talent
Jai Mcdowall won Britain’s Got Talent a decade ago and tells MARION MCMULLEN he has not stopped singing since
Does it feel like 10 years since Britain’s Got Talent?
The TV show was an incredible experience, a great thing to have done, but it really doesn’t feel like 10 years ago.
I’ve had fun looking back at old photographs. You forget about stuff and I’ve done so much since then. I’ve been so lucky.
I’ve had ups and downs like everyone else, but there have definitely been more ups than downs over the last 10 years and I am still doing what I love best ... singing.
What have been some of your highlights?
When I was about nine or 10 I was in a karaoke competition on holiday and I sang I Will Always Love You. (Laughs) I don’t know how I knew all the words at that age. Singer and Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai Mcdowall
Doing the Royal Variety Show was incredible.
I remember walking around backstage on the night and there were so many people there that I had only seen on TV before.
Tony Bennett was there and Peter Kay was hosting. I couldn’t get my head around it.
It was such a wonderful night and we performed before Princess Anne. She spoke to me afterwards and surprised me by knowing exactly where I was from in Scotland [Ayrshire]. I’d love to do it again one day.
I’ve also done China’s Got Talent. It was so surreal to be there.
I was there for three days to sing a duet of Time To Say Goodbye with a Chinese singer who was basically their Susan Boyle.
I was just about to step out on stage when they told me I was about to be seen by about a billion people. No pressure then.
I’d love to go back one day and see more of China.
I also did Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2019.
It was great to see everyone again – all the backstage staff and crew – and to see Simon Cowell and clear up the misunderstandings and b ****** t which have been wrongly reported in the past [the BGT judge apologised for making negative comments about Jai in the past]– and he gave me standing ovation.
I’m so grateful to BGT. I’m living the life I’ve always wanted because of the show.
Are you looking forward to touring later this year with new show Come What May?
I honestly can’t wait for it. I’m buzzing. I can’t wait to be on the stage.
The first few months of lockdown I did all the odd jobs I hadn’t had time to do before and after that I was bored.
Just before lockdown hit, I was fortunate enough to tour with Susan Boyle around the UK.
It was such an incredible experience and something I have wanted to do since being on Britain’s Got Talent, so that was a massive tick off the bucket list.
I’ve done a lot of online stuff and a panto that was streamed over the last year.
I’ve kept my hand in and I’m now doing a few gigs in July and August and then will be on tour with Come What May singing songs from Moulin Rouge and other great musicals.
I’m really looking forward to it and working with the company.
What is your favourite movie musical of all time?
I think it actually has to be Moulin Rouge, I love the music.
Sadly I’ve not made it to the real thing yet. I would love to be parachuted into the film because I think it’d be amazing to be in Paris in the year 1900.
A life with lots of singing and dancing in Paris, what more could you ask for?
I just love the version of Roxanne they perform in the show and for some reason I always imagined myself singing it one day.
I’m a massive musicals fan and we feature lots of different musicals in the show.
Where did your love of music come from?
My dad is a singer and I used to sing in front of people all the time.
When I was about nine or 10 I was in a karaoke competition on holiday and I sang I Will Always Love You. (Laughs) I don’t know how I knew all the words at that age.
I used to listen to my dad sing and think ‘I want to do that.’
When I was older my dad said ‘you can sing, come out with the band’ so I went out with him.
My mum also told me about a choir that was looking for members and I went along to audition.
I didn’t realise it was an am dram
group until they offered me a part in the musical Chess.
It all started from there really.
What do you love about touring?
I love getting out on the road and playing in different theatres and it’s such a great opportunity to see the country.
I’ve been to so many amazing places that I would never have visited if I hadn’t toured.
I drink a lot of water before a show and also try and chill a little, I guess almost meditate, to prepare.
Can you tell us a secret about yourself?
I can’t watch This Is Us without crying…every EPISODE.
Come What May – The Ultimate Tribute to Moulin Rouge and Other Hit Movie Musicals tours the country from September 15. Go to comewhatmayshow.com for details