GEORGE SAMPSON

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BRITAIN's GOT TALENT 2008 WINNER GEORGE SAMPSON  (Third place Andrew Johnston)   You've heard of singing in the rain, but how about break dancing in the rain? George gives it a go!  After being rejected last year, George fights his way back through the competition, and brings the audience to it`s feet with his performance to Singing In The Rain. Strike have plenty of talent... but it's not martial arts the girls are interested in... Judges Report Simon Cowell has described seeing George Sampson win Britain's Got Talent 2008 as "One of the best feelings I've ever had in my life". "It was a big shocker but I'm delighted. He needed a break in his life - you could see he had that look in his eyes". "I wanted him to win - but I genuinely didn't think he would". Amanda was also over the moon. "His life will change overwhelmingly. When I saw it was between those two" - Signature and George Sampson - "I was delighted. I desperately wanted George to win. His little face was so determined - and now he never has to work again." Piers grudgingly said, "Unfortunately Simon got it bang on when he said this was the Rocky story, battling against the odds". He said, "I think George won this show on the semi final. He won over everyone with that semi final, and he was absolutely right to do it again tonight." And he added, "The Royal family will love him - he's going to steal the show at the Royal Variety Performance." Roll on December - how on earth is George going to top tonight?   Act: Break/street dancer Age: 14 From: Warrington Auditioned in: Manchester His Story: George started to go to dance classes at the age of 6 currently goes to dancing, singing and acting classes. George is always out busking locally and he makes quite a bit of money from his dancing which he puts towards the costs of his lessons. George has put together his own ‘crew’ boys, who he teaches street dance to. George’s dream is to be a hip hop dancer in American dance videos. George entered the competition last year and says that he entered again because he knows that the Judges really liked him. He thinks they did the wrong thing by not putting him through and he wants to prove that by coming back better than before. He was persuaded by his family and friends who are sure he’ll do well in the live shows. He choreographed his dance himself. Judges comments: No buzzers and three Yes’s Piers: – I like people like you who fight. On that performance, we’ll see you in the live finals. Amanda – I prefer the stuff when you’re standing. Simon: – Last year I thought you were fantastic, this year thought you were phenomenal. From the little I know about dance, thought it was incredible.   George Sampson wins 'Britain's Got Talent 2008' Young breakdancer George Sampson was voted as the winner of ITV1's Britain's Got Talent last night. The 14-year-old impressed the public with his 'Singing In The Rain' routine, which had won him a place in the final earlier in the week. Sampson will now perform in front of Prince Charles at the Royal Variety Show. He will also receive a cash prize of £100,000. After the result was announced, George said: "I'm speechless - wow. Just thanks so much. You have changed my life." George had previously auditioned for the first series of the talent show, but did not make it to the semi-final stage. Returning for a second attempt this year, he told the judges he was "bigger and better". Simon Cowell told the teen last night: "You are the dancing version of Rocky, young man. You battled your way to the top. Congratulations." Dance duo Signature were the runners-up in the competition, while 13-year-old opera singer Andrew Johnston finished in third place. Winner George had previously vowed to pay off his mother's mortgage with the prize money. Sunday, June 1 2008, 09:21 BST By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter INTERVIEW - QandA (BBC, BGT)) It's the morning after the night before and we catch up with last night's winner, George... BGT: How do you feel? George: I am over the moon I really am I am just grateful for what's happened. All my family were waiting on the side of the stage, I got jumped on and all of my sisters were there, and it was a great atmosphere, I love all of my family/ BGT: How did you celebrate? George: There was an afterparty, we had a good time at that and we were allowed to stay til eleven oclock. Then I went back to the hotel and me and Andrew and Faryl had a good laugh and took loads of pictures. BGT: You got on really well with the other contestants... George: Yes we're all really good friends, we all said before we went on no matter who wins tonight, no matter what the verdict is, we are going to stay really close. They are not jealous and they're good fun. They will do really well in their own right I'm sure. BGT: You changed your performance back to Singing In The Rain at the last minute. How did that feel? George: It was scary. I thought people would think that I hadn't anything else to offer, but I did. An hour before the show I said, I needed to change the act, I prefer Singing In The Rain. And they said, 'do what you think was your best performance. I went to see Simon about it and he said 'definitely go for it if you want a shot of winning'. BGT: Piers and Amanda put you out of Britain's Got Talent 2007 - do you think you were ready to win last year? George: I don't think I had any shot of winning last year. When you look at the standard of Paul Potts and Connie Talbot. Paul Potts is out of this league, and Connie is out of this league - I wasn't good enough. I was a lot smaller, and I wasn't as good last year. BGT: You've got from huge disappointment last year to huge excitement this year... George: I kind of took last year on the chin really. It made me stronger and made me want to come back. The obviously, last year was great! BGT: What did the judges say to you after the show? George: The judges are so nice. They said I was the right person to win. Amanda gave me a big hug. She was like, "I was so proud you won. I was rooting for you." The judges and staff are so nice, Ant and Dec are so nice. Ant said, "if there's anything you want to talk about give us a call and we'll discuss it. BGT: Are you looking forward to The Royal Variety Performance? George: You know, I've done stages since I was six, through stage school, and I've done lots of theatres; PMA, The Neptune, The Empire theatre. But nothing compares to the Royal Variety show.  The only royalty I've ever danced in front of is my mum. I've never danced for someone so high up, I can't wait for that. BGT: And of course you get a large amount of cash! George: I know! £100,000 - wow! It's amazing. My dance troupe have always dreamed of going to LA and talking dance lessons over there, professionally, but we've never had a chance, with the money situation. I'd love us to have the opportunity to take them to America Part two of our exclusive interview with Britain's Got Talent winner, George Sampson... Can you describe the moment when Ant & Dec announced your name?   For most people who entered the competition will know what it felt like, because you wake up dreaming that they have called out your name. And all those silver things come flying all over you and they get stuck to you because you've been rained on. I couldn't believe it when I heard it. I actually was pinching myself. And I fell to the floor... it was unbelievable. Have you had the chance to watch the show back? I haven't watched it back. I haven't had the chance to watch the semi final back. I know what happened, I know the comments and stuff. But I'm looking forward to seeing the show and the comments and interviews, I've not seen them yet. What will you winning Britain's Got Talent mean to your family? My family are great but mad at the same time. When we were watching the final, all the way through the verdict, all I could hear was them shouting. I just felt like saying, "shut up!" It's great though cos I love them. They are really supportive, it will be best to pay my mum back for all the lessons and things. How long have you been learning? I've been dancing for eight year. Mainly stage school and I got into break dancing at eight years old. I wanted to extend it. I went to a show at the high school and a breakdance act came on; it was the first breakdance act I'd ever seen. I went to my mum, "that looks impressive". There guy was doing somersaults and bursting out everything. I got involved and kept practicing. Are there any more dancers in the family? Yes all my sisters are dancers. We had a dance team and we used to dance together. But we split up - my older sister went to college for contemporary dancing. My other sister got into school to do fusion dancing. And my other sisters work with singing now. Is your mum a dancer? My mum's not a dancer, no. (Mum shouts over) My mum says to put down that's she's a taxi. And a good one at that! Who are your favourite dancers? My favourite dancers are Justin Timberlake, Usher, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Wade Robson, Wayne Sleep... anybody that dances. Dancing is such a competitive yet friendly sport that everybody is inspirational in the business. Are your days of busking in the street behind you? I don't know. I think dancing in Manchester made me, I couldn't have come this far without it. I might not do it again but I think I will. I never will forget it, no matter how things go. I would love to meet the people who got me here and say thank you. What would you like to be doing in a year's time? I'd like to be dancing behind Justin Timberlake in a new video... maybe that's just a dream. How do you think your life will chance now? My life my change dramatically but as a person I'm not going to change. I'm going to stay the person I was before the show during the show and after the show. Do you think George Sampson has what it takes to succeed? Don't forget you can comment !