Michael Collings was just 19 when he appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2011, where he made it to the final and secured fifth place in the competition. Remembered for his impressive version of Tracy Chapman’s iconic song Fast Car, the guitarist and singer was working as an IT engineer at the time of his audition, and was also an expectant dad, with his fiancee Sarah pregnant with their first child.
The Plymouth resident revealed that he had only performed in pubs prior to the TV competition, but his talent saw him through to the very end of the series and onto the BGT tour that took place after the show ended.
Following the show, he gave advice to other acts thinking of auditioning to BGT in an interview with Yahoo: “Make sure you practise a lot, don’t be nervous and don’t say anything embarrassing because they’ve got it all on camera! Just go with a positive attitude and give it your all really.”
He also revealed what happened to the eye-catching orange jumper he wore to his BGT audition: “I still have it but I don’t wear it any more. I have to dress a bit smarter for gigs!”
Now a dad to a son and a daughter, Michael continues to share his music on social media along with photos of his life that reveal he looks very different from how fans will remember him on the talent show.
His posts include photos and videos of Michael in his home studio, covering songs like Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams and Justin Timberlake ’s Senorita, and appearing at events including An Evening with Tom Kerridge, and performing as a wedding singer.
In a 2016 interview, he looked back on his time on Britain’s Got Talent, saying: “I got through to the finals and came fifth in the end, it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. I learnt that nothing lasts forever and people that enter these TV shows are usually just a faze, as the years go on you eventually get forgotten. I made sure that didn't happen and I've been travelling the country with my new management for four years now, attempting to move away from the 'BGT' name and build a platform for myself as me, Michael Collings.”
He also announced the release of his single Tidal Wave in the summer of 2022.
The fifth season of Britain’s Got Talent had Michael competing alongside dancer James Hobley, organist Jean Martyn, impressionist Les Gibson, boy band New Bounce, comic dancer Steven Hall, breakdancer Razy Gogonea, singer Ronan Parke and pianist Paul Gbegbaje and singer Jai McDowall in the final, with Jai the ultimate winner.
The series has been running since 2004 for 17 series, and has launched the careers of acts including Paul Potts, Diversity, Lost Voice Guy, Susan Boyle and Ashleigh and Pudsey the dog.
