A Gran finale
THE gran of Lost Voice Guy has hailed the Britain’s Got Talent winner as the “Yes I can” man.
Drinks were had by all. Simon was in great form as he thought it was a great series BGT SOURCE ON THE WELL-DESERVED CELEBRATIONS AS SHOW ENDS ON HIGH
Ethel Foster, 91, is comedian Lee Ridley’s No 1 fan. And she revealed: “He never felt there was anything he couldn’t do.” The pensioner fought back tears as she told of his amazing self belief. “Lee knows he is disabled but he doesn’t think as though he is disabled,” she explained. “If anyone ever said to him, ‘I don’t think you’ll be able to do that’ his response would be, ‘Yes I can’.” Widow Ethel told how Lee refused to let his life be blighted by cerebral palsy, which became evident when he was only two.
She explained: “The doctor said he didn’t think he would survive but he came through — though he had to be nursed day and night.”
And asked about his fall shortly before the final, she insisted there was no chance of him missing his bid for the big-time. She added: “He is as hard as nails.”
That bravery saw him triumph on the ITV talent show on Sunday with his hilarious act delighting the audience. Ethel added:“When he decided to enter Britain’s Got Talent, we were all so proud of him just for doing it. “But not for a second did any of us think we would be watching him win it. I can’t say how proud I am, it has brought us such happiness.” Lee told millions of fans that he was from Newcastle, where he is a popular act in pubs and clubs. But he was brought up in the village of Medomsley, Co Durham, by his dad David, 61, who has recently retired as a sales rep, and mum Janet, 62, a former cancer nurse. Now kind-hearted Lee is to spend some of his £250,000 prize on the medical workers who have supported him in his health battles.
He said: “I’d like to help the people who got me to where I am.”
The star’s other surprising big purchase will be a motor home.
He added: “It would be nice to stop wherever you liked when you were gigging. It would save having to find accessible hotels as well.”
Lee, who speaks through a voice app, will perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.
He said: “I do have some jokes in mind for the Queen. I just hope she likes them or I might end up in the Tower of London. Or having to talk to Prince Charles.”
On a more serious note, Lee added: “I hope that by seeing disabled people like myself, some of the stigma will be taken away from disability.
“When I grew up, I was always getting picked on but that was only because people didn’t understand properly. It’s still a problem today.”
After beating fellow comic Robert White in the final, he was determined to have a low-key evening.
“Well, after my semi-final win, I went back to the hotel and fell. So this time I managed to stay upright all night. Which was an improvement.”
The BGT finale attracted its highest amount of viewers since 2015, being seen by an average of 8.7 million.
ITV said it was the most-watched programme of the night with an 42% audience share.