‘SHE WAS MY GOLDEN BUZZER LAST YEAR – I’LL MAKE THAT HAPPEN’ — BGT winner Sydnie Christmas reveals her IDOL is NOT Taylor Swift but The Greatest Showman’s Lauren Allred… as Amanda Holden makes SHOCK promise to set up dream collaboration
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Sydnie Christmas, the 28-year-old singer who won Britain’s Got Talent 2024, has revealed her musical idol is NOT a global megastar like Michael Jackson or Taylor Swift — but Lauren Allred, the voice behind ‘Never Enough’ in The Greatest Showman
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In a candid interview, the Kent-born performer broke down in tears when discussing her dream collaboration, saying: ‘Lauren Allred is my idol — that would be my dream collaboration’
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Amanda Holden, who was present during the interview, made a SHOCK on-air promise: ‘Easy — she was my Golden Buzzer last year. I will make that happen’
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Christmas has also revealed she WON’T blow her £250,000 prize money on cars or holidays — instead, she’s spending it on vocal coaching to invest in her future, saying: ‘I can now afford you once a week!
She stood on the Britain’s Got Talent stage, belted out ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, and won the nation’s heart.
But Sydnie Christmas — the singer who became the first solo female winner in BGT history not attached to a dog act — has revealed a surprising confession about her musical inspiration.
It’s not Taylor Swift. It’s not Michael Jackson.
It’s Lauren Allred — the American singer who provided the haunting vocals for ‘Never Enough’ in The Greatest Showman .
‘I never thought in a million years this would happen’
The revelation came during an emotional post-win interview, where Christmas — visibly overwhelmed — struggled to hold back tears.
‘Lauren Allred is my idol,’ she said, her voice trembling. ‘That would be my dream collaboration. I never thought in a million years that this would happen to me.’
The moment took an unexpected turn when Amanda Holden, sitting nearby, leaned in with a mischievous grin.
‘Easy,’ the BGT judge declared. ‘She was my Golden Buzzer last year. I will make that happen.’
Allred famously received Holden’s Golden Buzzer during her 2023 audition, where she delivered a spine-tingling rendition of ‘Never Enough’ — the very song she recorded for the 2017 blockbuster The Greatest Showman.
For Christmas, the promise was almost too much to process.
‘Oh my God, I’m so happy,’ she said, barely containing her excitement. ‘This is unreal. Thank you so much.’
‘I can now afford you once a week!’
But Christmas’s heartwarming revelation didn’t stop with her celebrity idol.
When asked by This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard how she planned to spend her £250,000 winnings, the singer gave an answer that stunned viewers .
‘It’s not even about the money — this is just amazing,’ she said, before revealing her true priority.
‘I loved my singing coach on BGT, Annabel Williams. She was amazing. She made me a better singer in two months than when I went to college for three years.’
‘I said to her, “I can now afford you once a week!”’
Rather than splashing out on a flashy car or luxury holiday, Christmas is investing in herself — a decision that has earned her widespread praise.
‘Absolutely!’ she added enthusiastically. ‘She’s just amazing and I just love her.’
A love story behind the scenes
While millions watched Christmas captivate audiences on stage, few knew about the man cheering her on from the wings.
The singer’s heart belongs to Melano Rito — a fellow entertainment industry professional who excels as both an actor and a talented singer-guitarist.
Their romance has blossomed over the past two years, marking June 2024 as a milestone in their journey together.
Throughout Christmas’s triumphant path on BGT, Rito stood steadfastly by her side, offering unwavering support behind the scenes.
While his presence may have been discreet to viewers, eagle-eyed fans have spotted touching moments — including him embracing Christmas warmly as she rejoined her family on stage after a captivating performance.
Their shared passion for the arts has undoubtedly strengthened their bond, making them a dynamic duo both on and off the stage.
The vocal coach who changed everything
Annabel Williams, the vocal coach who helped shape Christmas’s winning performances, is no stranger to success.
Renowned for her work on major platforms like Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, Williams has honed the talents of global icons including James Arthur, Katie Perry, Sam Ryder and the late Amy Winehouse.
After Christmas received her Golden Buzzer, Williams became her mentor — meticulously refining her technique and even assisting in selecting her final competition piece .
The partnership goes beyond skill enhancement.
‘She made me better in two months than when I went to college for three years,’ Christmas said. ‘She’s amazing and I just love her.’
From gym receptionist to BGT champion
Christmas’s journey to the BGT throne was anything but conventional.
Born in Gravesend, Kent, on 18 July 1995, she studied at the D&B Academy of Performing Arts before making her stage debut in the West End production of the jukebox musical Lazarus .
She later performed on cruise ships including Independence of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, appearing in productions such as Grease and Starlight Express .
At her lowest point, with her career struggling, she took a zero-hour contract at a local gym — a far cry from the bright lights of the West End .
But everything changed when she auditioned for the 17th series of Britain’s Got Talent.
At her audition, she sang ‘Tomorrow’ from Annie — a performance that prompted Amanda Holden to smash the Golden Buzzer, sending her straight to the semi-finals .
She won her semi-final with 37.9% of the public vote, performing Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ .
And in the final, she closed the show with ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ — securing 27.2% of the vote and becoming the first solo female winner in BGT history who wasn’t part of a dog act .
What’s next?
With £250,000 in the bank and a promise from Amanda Holden to make her dream collaboration a reality, Christmas’s future has never looked brighter.
‘I’m just so happy,’ she said, still visibly emotional. ‘I never thought in a million years that this would happen to me.’
And with Lauren Allred potentially just a phone call away, fans may soon witness the duet of a lifetime.
What do you think? Should Sydnie Christmas collaborate with Lauren Allred — and is reinvesting her winnings in vocal coaching the smartest move yet? Let us know in the comments below.
