Back for a third series with Claudia Winkleman presenting and singer/songwriters Mika and Jon Batiste as judges and mentors, The Piano began the pursuit for an extraordinary amateur pianist at London’s Liverpool Street Station in Sunday night’s show.
Jon Batiste replaces Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who was judge and mentor for the first two series.
“Along with Mika and Claudia, Jon Batiste will trawl the nation’s train stations – and for the first time an airport – looking for the remarkable amateur pianists who prove that musical magic can be found in the most surprising places.”
Lucy Illingworth won the first series in 2023 and Brad Kella was the show’s 2024 winner.
Lucy Illingworth performing at the Coronation Concert in Windsor (Photo: Chris Jackson//AFP)
Lucy Illingworth stole the hearts of viewers when she won the show at the age of just 13.
The teenager, who is blind and neurodivergent, went on to be crowned the winner of the competition, after her performance of Claude Debussy’s Arabesque No 1 at the Royal Festival Hall in the final.
Lucy Illingworth at the 2024 Baftas in May 2024 (Photo: Jeff Spicer/Bafta/Getty)
In October 2023, she performed Arabesque No 1 and Prelude in C at a Classic FM Live concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Since then, she has become an international ambassador for the The Lang Lang International Music Foundation, alongside the likes of Jools Holland, Sting and Guy Chambers.
She also starred in a Channel 4 documentary about her life and her musical talent – The Incredibly Talented Lucy.
She embarks on a series of tour dates later this summer playing London Union Chapel and Leeds City Varieties Music Hall.
What has Brad Kella done since winning The Piano?
Brad Kella on the second series of ‘The Piano’ (Photo: Nic Serpell-Rand /Channel 4/Love Productions)The 23-year-old from Bootle, who now lives in Fazakerley, was spotted playing on a public piano in a shopping centre in his home city of Liverpool and invited to audition for the Channel 4 show.
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Brought up in foster care, Kella started learning to pay piano at the age of seven when he begged his foster parents to buy him a keyboard.
He credits his success to his foster parents Eve and Frank Kilmartin.
“But I had the best foster parents in the whole world.
“I want to show people what a number can do.”
Brad Kella is now signed to Liverpool-based label Modern Sky (Photo: John Johnson/PA)He returned to The Piano for a Christmas special at Battersea Power Station in December 2024 and like his fellow winner Lucy, he has become an ambassador for the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.
After the album’s release, Kella will be supporting Gary Barlow on his UK tour throughout April, May and June this year.
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