Popular local DJ Steve Briers has been enjoying a brush with TV stardom
after auditioning for a top reality show.
Fifty-five-year-old Steve who holds the record as the world’s fastest backwards talker after reciting all 2,343 lyrics of Queen’s classic album ‘A Night at the Opera’, backwards, in a time of 9 minutes, 58 seconds. Steve was one of less than 200 acts out of 10,000 applicants to appear live on before the celebrity judging panel of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Steve, who auditioned at Birmingham Hippodrome, after being ‘scouted’ and invited to attend a local audition, sadly didn’t make the live shows, but nevertheless had ‘an amazing day out’.
“I was disappointed my act wasn’t shown, but have nothing but praise for the show and the producers,” Steve told the Observer this week.
“To be given the opportunity to be part of the world’s biggest TV show
is something many people can only dream of.”
Two days before his audition Steve was dealt a blow when the producers informed him they could not get clearance for Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to be sung backwards.Thrown into panic, Steve quickly learned and rehearsed Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive!“I have the world’s worst voice,” admitted Steve, “but everyone I spoke to backstage and throughout the day was amazed at what I did.
“When I went out onto the stage, it felt surreal and very special. I introduced myself backwards which bemused the judges, and then of course I did it forwards before asking each judge individually for a word which I instantly threw back at them backwards.
“I asked David Walliams to join me on stage and I got him to write
something on a whiteboard which I would say backwards, to show how I instantly
form the words. David being David wrote: ‘David loves Simon and wants to marry
him’ which of course sparked banter between them.” To end my act, I sang Gloria
Gaynor's classic 'I Will Survive' Backwards
Steve continued: “I was disappointed I didn’t get put through, but I was so chuffed to have appeared on stage and to know that I was a part of one of the biggest TV shows in the world. It was also disappointing to not have my audition or any footage shown on TV on BGT, despite being filmed all day with different film crews, Ant & Dec and Stephen Mulhern for all the individual act interviews and ‘out takes’ that form a big part of the show, but that’s the way it goes”. I was pleased to have my family with me, my wife Linda, daughters Laura and Angelina, son-in-law Mathew, and grandchildren Orlando, Leoni, Faith and Maci. We had a brilliant day out which for me it was all about. Having a fun family day and creating special memories.”
As well as meeting presenters Ant and Dec back stage, Steve was interviewed by Stephen Mulhern who presents Britain’s Got More Talent, while back stage Simon Cowell told him he had really enjoyed his act. The show has never had a backwards talker before.
“Attending the audition has certainly made me think perhaps next year I’ll attempt another world record!” added Steve.