For anyone who has followed Britain’s Got Talent, they know how rare it is to truly stun the judges — especially Simon Cowell, who is not easily impressed. But every so often, a performer walks onto that stage and changes everything.
In 2018, 10-year-old singer Calum Courtney wowed the BGT audience with his amazing voice. Calum was also open about being diagnosed with autism, and brought his supportive family and friends along to the show. Talent Recap
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Calum was born on July 13, 2007, and lives with his family in Basildon, Essex. He started singing at a young age and taught himself how to play the drums when he was 18 months old, according to an Inside Edition interview with his mother, Tupney Courtney. Apost
Before his BGT audition, Calum had a memorable breakthrough moment in a very unexpected place. His viral popularity started when he was shopping with his mother at an Asda store. He spontaneously broke out into a rendition of “Who’s Lovin’ You” by Smokey Robinson. The shoppers likely did not know the young boy was singing at first — they probably thought the singing was coming from music playing in the store. The shoppers had to stop and listen. Apost
Source : Youtube/FreakinFamous
Calum’s mother pulled out her camera to capture the performance for the boy’s father. His dad was supposed to be the only person to see the video. However, Calum’s aunt had other plans and posted the video on Facebook. The rest, as they say, is history. Apost
Calum’s performance of “Who’s Loving You” by the Jackson 5 in his audition earned a standing ovation and brought him to tears. After his audition, David commended him, stating he did “absolutely brilliantly.” Amanda added it was “one of the biggest reactions I think we’ve had from anybody this year.” Talent RecapFandom
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Cowell praised the young singer directly, telling him: “Calum, you’ve got soul, you’ve got a very authentic voice, you’ve got a great tone to your voice.” He finished by telling Calum he really liked him. Calum ended up getting four “yes”es from the judges that day. AmomamaDoYouRemember?
Source : Youtube/FreakinFamous
In his own words, Calum never let his diagnosis define or limit him. Before his BGT semifinals performance, Calum shared that he was diagnosed with autism just over a year before his time on the show. “For me, autism means I struggle with learning, and sometimes with friends,” he said. However, he told viewers not to feel sorry for him. “Even though it takes things away from me, it helps me with music. And music is my passion.” Talent Recap
Source : Youtube/FreakinFamous
In the Semi-Finals, he performed “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, accompanied by a choir, before concluding his performance with a picture of himself and his mother displayed on the electronic screen behind him. He once again broke down in tears. He ended up making it to the final, finishing the competition in ninth place overall. FandomTalent Recap
Watch Calum’s Britain’s Got Talent audition here: Calum Courtney: The Viral Boy With Autism Sings EMOTIONAL Song | Britain’s Got Talent 2018
This article was originally published in April 2018, following Calum Courtney’s audition on Britain’s Got Talent Series 12, Episode 1, which aired on April 14, 2018. The core events covered in this story span from December 2017 — when Calum’s impromptu supermarket performance at an Asda in Basildon, Essex went viral on Facebook — through to June 2018, when he reached the Grand Final of BGT Series 12, finishing in ninth place overall. All facts have been reviewed and verified for accuracy. This article has been updated to meet current publishing standards.
