A singer from Cwmbran has made it through to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent that are being broadcast live on ITV this week.
Travis George, 22, had a standing ovation from the audience and judges following his performance of Stars from Les Misérables in the audition on Saturday 6 May. His name was announced at the end of this evening’s show with Declan Donnelly revealing he is among the eight semi-finalists who will perform on Wednesday 31 May to try and win a place in the final taking place this Sunday.
Debbie Smith, his mum, told Cwmbran Life: “He is autistic, noise and any loud noises really bothered him (as a child). But he loved music, music calmed him. That was something I always did for him, play music.
“He grew up loving listening to music. He would sing a bit in his room but never let us hear him or do a show for the family, he was much too shy for that.”
She said when he was 14 or 15 he made friends with some children who were in a drama group and they tried to persuade him to join.
“He was too nervous to join. They said ‘sing something for us’. It blew them away. They persuaded him to sing a song. They loved it and said, ‘You’ve got to put that out for everyone to hear’.”
He joined AllStars, a theatre group, and the youth club at Hope GB, a centre in Upper Cwmbran that supports people with autism. Peter Karrie, a Welsh singer who has played the lead role in Phantom of the Opera in London, organised a charity evening with Hope GB.
Debbie said: “Peter had an assistant called Jenna and she asked Hope GB if they had any singers in the group. Travis had only done things for parents. Jenna persevered and he sang with Peter.” During the show Peter stopped singing and Travis did a solo.
“That was the moment he realised he wanted to sing or act. He loved the applause.”
Debbie’s tearful reaction to her son’s audition on Britain’s Got Talent touched fans from across the country.
“I was a complete wreck. I had no idea I would have reacted like that. I was shaking like a leaf. He blew my mind. He has done stuff in charity shows. I know he can sing. But to see him on that massive stage with all those people standing. It was amazing.
“It gave him such a boost to his confidence. For someone with autism, he’s such a people person.”
Watch Travis George’s semi-final on Britain’s Got Talent
Travis will perform on Wednesday 31 May. The show is on ITV from 8pm to 10pm.
The live shows see eight contestants battle it out each evening for two spots in the final. One finalist is chosen by public vote and a second finalist is chosen by the judges, Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden.
Watch Travis George’s performance in the heats of Britain’s Got Talent
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