Callum’s wrong answer has Let It Shine judges giggling
A WELSH schoolboy standing in front of the Let It Shine judge Amber Riley had the singing celebrity in stitches when he tried to explain exactly where Wales was.
“It’s a country next to England,” Callum Howells told the Glee and Dreamgirls star.
The only trouble was, that wasn’t what Amber had asked the 17-yearold when faced with the latest hopeful on the show’s search for a star.
The fun started early for the pupil with a passion for performing on the big stage when he showed presenter Mel Giedroyc his swivelling hip moves known as “the Rhondda two-step”.
But it got even funnier when he told Amber he was head boy at Treorchy Comprehensive only for Amber to pipe up with: “OK, American. What does that mean?”
“It’s like a country next to England, and that’s where I’m from.”
Amber and the rest of the judging panel – made up of Gary Barlow, Dannii Minogue and Martin Kemp – and the audience were convulsed with laughter.
“No, no! What does head boy mean!” says Amber, who by now was crying with laughter.
When he realised his mistake the teenager joined in the laughter before getting down to what he was really there for – impressing the judges enough through.
After his spirited performance, a song from the musical Hamilton, Callum, dressed casually in jeans and a mustard-coloured T-shirt, faced the judges for their comments.
Gary Barlow praised him for his confident performance but said he wanted his voice to move from a musical voice to a pop voice.
“You have a great technique, great pitch and good ears,” he said.
And while fellow judge former Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp said he didn’t feel there was enough of Callum’s own personality in the song, he said the schoolboy looked great and was a fabulous kid.
When it came to the scores, Amber gave him the maximum five out of five, with judges Gary and Dannii awarding him four stars and Martin three.
“I needed you to go through,” said Amber.
“Even though it was musical theatre, I think you have the acting ability and the dramatic ability and I know you can transform.”
“The voice is incredible,” Dannii. to send him said