As far as talent goes, we’ve got it in spades and it showed at this year’s annual competition.
Contestants from all over the city and county made their way to The Y Theatre on Saturday 24 November to entertain the audience and dazzle the judges.
The event marked the shows seventh year – an impressive feat for a local talent competition which started off at Pukaar News Head Quarters at Phoenix but now packs out a city theatre.
This year, the family event saw a cultural and diverse range of sensational solo singing acts, up beat dance routines and the show’s first ever opera and live art performance, cheered on by the buzzing audience.
As with all competitions, there can only be one winner and this year it was 24-year-old special needs teacher, Lauren Rose. She blew the judges away with her mesmerising vocals to ‘Love Never Dies’ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, The Phantom of the Opera.
On her win, Lauren said: “I feel amazing, but overwhelmed. I really wasn’t expecting this, I thought I’d be going back to work Monday morning and just saying ‘ah well, I gave it a go.’”
“My older sister, Rebecca, has Downs Syndrome and Autism, she inspired me to work with children with special needs. The Phantom of the Opera is our favourite, and she was watching me in the audience today,” added Lauren.
ITV Central reporter and presenter Rajiv Popat compered the event along with his son, Zach and this year’s judging panel included Councillor Ted Cassidy, regional chair of Crimestoppers, Bill Cullen, Priti Raichura of PR Events and Deputy Managing Editor at BBC Radio Leicester, Kamlesh Purohit.
Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, Simon Cole was also in attendance and welcomed the contestants on stage: “People that have done well in the past have made it on to the telly and they’ve had the opportunity to record things. It’s a really important event to show the positive side about what young people do all over Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.”
This year, audience members were also treated to a live set from indie rock band, Sonic Boom.
Romail Gulzar, event organiser was thrilled with the outcome: “This is this event’s seventh year and I’m still overwhelmed with how much talent young people from the city and county have. The It’s great to be able to offer them a platform and to build their confidence in front of a real audience.
Special mention to the Runners-up who included local dance group DDC and 11-year-old Kizziana Palmer who sang a beautiful version of Beyonce’s ‘Listen’.
Nearly 500 young, hopefuls entered this year’s Leicester’s Got Talent (LGT), a record-breaking number for the competition.
The event was sponsored Bond Adams Solicitors, LAMP Advocacy, Leicestershire Police, Crimestoppers, Anand and Daewoo Official. Official media partners include Leicester Mercury, BBC Radio Leicester and Pukaar News.
Leicester’s Got Talent 2019 will be back on 30 November so don’t forget to mark the date in your diary.
