After winning Britain’s Got Talent some might imagine that Sydnie Christmas would pull out all the stops to celebrate the biggest night of her life.
However, the singer who works as a receptionist at a local gym on a zero hour contract stuck true to her humble roots and went on a night out with friends at her local Wetherspoons.
The 28-year-old from Kent had insisted that if she won the £250,000 prize she would be returning to work this morning – joking previously that she has ‘rent to pay’.
Her performance on Sunday night – dubbed the best the show has ever seen by head judge Simon Cowell – and throughout the series has captured hearts across Britain, and now it looks like she’ll be able to have a crack at her dream of working full time on the West End.
As a result of her victory Sydnie has sealed a coveted place at the Royal Variety Performance, meaning she could perform in front of the likes of King Charles and Prince William – a far cry from the cruise ships she used to sing on.
Sydnie Christmas was crowned the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2024 during Sunday night’s nail-biting final
Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International, where she starred as Rizzo in the musical Grease (pictured)
Sydnie had previously joked that no matter what happened on Sunday night she would be back at work at her local gym on Monday morning
Sydnie, pictured performing in the Starlight Express, dreamt of being able to work full time on the West End and is hopeful that BGT will be a stepping stone to make that dream a reality
Sydnie, pictured performing as a back-up singer on the Andrew Marr show, was the favourite to take the top spot ahead of the final after winning her semi-final heat with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way that wowed judges
Sydnie, pictured as a child, won the £250,000 prize on Sunday
Sydnie’s performance in the final was dubbed the best the show has ever seen by head judge Simon Cowell
It seems unlikely that Sydnie will forget her humble beginnings and the hard work she put in to beat ten other outstanding acts with her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow after a jam-packed episode.
After winning last night the overwhelmed star broke down as she said: ‘I don’t know what to say! I cannot believe the amount of love I’ve felt since it aired. It’s absolutely – oh my god. I am overwhelmed with love and I wish for one day that everyone feels the way I do. It’s amazing, thank you so much.’
She was the favourite to take the top spot ahead of the final after winning her semi-final heat with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way that wowed judges.
After her performance on Sunday’s final judge Amanda said: ‘I know how long you have waited for this moment, it was utterly spellbinding and perfect in every way. It was just gold dust.’
Fellow judge Bruno added: ‘That is what I call a show-stopping performance, you took my breath away!’, while Alesha said: ‘You just radiate hope and joy and light – and there was something about that performance and that emotion, I felt it move through my body with you.’
Simon then commented: ‘That was really something special. That lyric felt so personal to you about what you must have wanted over the years with a God-given talent like that and for whatever reason you’ve been ignored. I actually felt very emotional.’
Sydnie had previously joked that no matter what happened on Sunday night she would be back at work at her local gym on Monday morning.
Speaking to The Mirror she joked: ‘I’ve already had two weeks off – and I’m on a zero-hours contract. I have rent to pay!’
Sydnie has dreamt of being able to work full time on the West End and is hopeful that BGT will be a stepping stone to make that dream a reality.
After winning the overwhelmed star broke down as she said: ‘I don’t know what to say! I cannot believe the amount of love I’ve felt since it aired. It’s absolutely – oh my god!’
The budding West End star, 28, scooped the coveted £250,000 prize and will get to perform at the Royal Variety Show after impressing judges Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden and winning over the voting public
‘In a year’s time, I hope I’m living my dream. I want to be doing what I love for a living instead of rolling towels and making shakes!’
Before her BGT audition, Sydnie was considering turning her back on her dreams.
Speaking to The Mirror, Sydnie said: ‘If you’d have told me on New Year’s Eve that this would be happening in my life five months later, I would have told you something. So I’m very happy and a very lucky girl.
‘I’ve done loads of auditions to get into the West End. It’s always knock backs, always that you don’t fit.
‘All my mates have got babies and getting married. I’m still trying to afford rent in London! So I thought in my head because nothing was happening for me I’ll give it one last go… and here we are today!’
Sydnie appeared in the E4 programme Stage School which ran for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 showcasing the real struggles for students studying performing arts.
The show followed an array of situations ranging from romantic fallouts to stage dramas.
Sydnie has had lots of family support during the process with her grandmothers watching her first audition at the Palladium.
And her long term boyfriend, a fellow musical actor, Max Rizzo from Sciliy.
Max is currently signed by an agency who specialise in rising stars.
Long term boyfriend, a fellow musical actor, Max Rizzo from Sciliy. Max is currently signed by an agency who specialise in rising stars
The 28-year-old from Kent works as a receptionist at a local gym on a zero hour contract and has insisted that despite the outcome of Sunday’s show, she will be returning to work Monday morning
She has performed professionally but is still waiting for her West End debut.
The golden buzzer recipient did face some controversy at the start of the audition process as many fans accused the show for being fixed once viewers realised Sydnie already had a musical career.
Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International, where she starred as Rizzo in the musical Grease.
She made her debut in London as one of the lead voices in Lazarus, featuring the music of David Bowie, at the King’s Cross Theatre and shared a snap backstage of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson after he attended the show.
She then went on to appear in a German production of Starlight Express in 2019 as Belle the Bar Car.
Sydnie won the third live semi-final show on Wednesday after receiving a standing ovation from the whole of the audience after singing her version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way.
Judge Amanda Holden was bought to tears, while Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon were in utter awe of her talent.
Revealing just how nervous she was she admitted: ‘My voice coach had to walk me on to the stage because I was so nervous. I’m very happy it didn’t look that way because I was terrified.’
The golden buzzer recipient did face some controversy at the start of the audition process as many fans accused the show for being fixed once viewers realised Sydnie already had a musical career
She made her debut in London as one of the lead voices in Lazarus, featuring the music of David Bowie, at the King’s Cross Theatre and shared a snap backstage of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson after he attended the show
After her performance, all four judges were quickly up on their feet to applaud Sydnie.
Amanda said: ‘I have to sit down, I thought I was going to pass out during that. Honestly, Sydnie when we saw your audition I had so many people come up and stop me.
‘And tonight you have done even better, I just cannot believe your capacity and your fire and your strength.’
She’s not only a fan favourite but also a favourite amongst the judges.
At a press event both Simon Cowell and Amanda they thought Sydnie had what it takes to win it all.
When asked who would win the show Cowell told reporters: ‘I think it’s Sydnie, yeah.’
‘It feels like a distant memory now,’ Sydnie told the Mail. ‘I auditioned in January. I feel like my neck has been in my mouth ever since.
‘I have wanted to do this for ever. To be on stage, entertain, perform and sing. I went on Britain’s Got Talent in the hope that if I was to get on that I could just give it a go.
‘I’ve been doing auditions for so many years and I thought, I haven’t got a lot to lose now. I thought to myself, s*d it, let’s give it a go, and then everything went so well, which I didn’t expect at all.’
She then went on to appear in a German production of Starlight Express in 2019 as Belle the Bar Car
