A YOUNG singer who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent has been nominated for a Young Champions award.
Felix Yates, 12, of Worsbrough Bridge, made it to the semi-finals of ITV’s prime-time talent show last May with boy band Bring It North, which he is a member of. His band mates come from Darlington, Bridlington, Lancashire and Nottingham and were brought together by a singing teacher last January. When they appeared on the show they were tipped by judges Simon Cowell and company as ‘the next One Direction’.
Despite missing out on a place in the grand final of Britain’s Got Talent, the band were chosen to go on the road with Il Divo following their impressive performances on the show.
Il Divo, a group brought together by Simon Cowell himself in 2003, perform all over the world and the band were able to embark on an 11-date UK tour last July.
His vocal talents and commitment to performing saw him nominated under the Young Musicians category.
His dad, Mike Yates, said: “Felix’s success has grown by leaps and bounds since he appeared on Britain’s Got Talent. Following the tour with Il Divo, he auditioned to join the Cathedral Academy in Wakefield, which has an enhanced performing arts curriculum. Out of 300 applicants Felix was one of 30 chosen to join the academy.
“He has also joined the MXM Academy in London where he continues to train alongside his other band members. He went on a Norwegian Cruise in October where he played Benji in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”
More recently Bring it North headlined Voice in a Million at the SSE arena in Wembley and in a few weeks Felix will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall alongside his classmates from MXM supporting Collabro, a musical theatre group who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2014.
Mike said: “He is more than one hundred per cent dedicated to turning his singing into a career and he is always pushing himself. He’s up and singing his way to school and he enjoys all the extra curricular activities the school has to offer.
“I am over the moon to hear he has been nominated for a Young Champions award. It’s great that he is recognised as a Barnsley lad doing great things and to have support behind him.
“He has built a steady fanbase as an individual and as part of Bring it North and I know there are great things in store for him.”
