Speak Up! exclusive by Nicole Lucy
Diversity
“It’s strange to read a newspaper and see your face on the front and turn on the telly and you’re on Sky News, it’s just totally unbelievable.”
Diversity are the Britain’s Got Talent winners but to me they’re just the boys from next door…
Waiting on the edge of our seats on the Saturday night of the Britain’s Got Talent finals, we were all hoping our neighbour’s dreams would come true and Diversity would take the title.
Left: Family. Jamie, Matt Rachael (sister) and Ian.
For the boys, just knowing they were in the top two felt like winning. Up against Susan Boyle, the show’s favorite to win, second was an achievement in itself. Absolutely thrilled, they congratulated each other and just assumed that Susan Boyle was to win, but their sheer creative and humorous talent shone through to the British public and they came out on top. Lost for words, choreographer Ashley Banjo could not string a sentence together. They could genuinely not believe what had just happened to them.
Meanwhile, the whole street was in total shock and celebrated their national achievement. They had done it! All those dance rehearsals had paid off and just this one night has completely changed their lives. They defied the odds and proved to the whole of Britain just how talented they are and that yes, Britain definitely has got talent. The atmosphere filled with fireworks, cheering, screaming and even crying as the neighbourhood gathered in the streets to celebrate.
Before the fame
Diversity on stage
Three ordinary boys from next door, Ian (25, IT solutions consultant), Jamie (23) and Matt (17, music student) with normal jobs and lives have become the conversation on everyone’s lips. Our polite and friendly neighbours told us they were considering entering the competition beforehand, and what a decision that was! Diversity frequently performed over Lakeside shopping centre at the fashion shows, and it was there that someone suggested they should enter the competition, and that they could be in with a chance. When they got through to the semi-finals and then the finals, there was a constant smile across their faces, we were all so proud of them. We waited for them to come home, champagne in hand, and wished them well for the finals and, “Whatever happens it is an achievement to have come this far.”
Fulfilled Dreams
The group of eleven Essex boys ranging from ages 13-25 gave a breathtaking performance on Saturday night and had fantastic responses from the judges. Simon Cowell gave the lads a 10/10 for their performance and said out of all the acts, they were his favourite. The heart stopping moment when Ant and Dec announced the winner was life changing. Immediately, fireworks were released, champagne was popped and banners and balloons were put up.
Semi-finals
After the finals on Saturday night we obviously knew that they wouldn’t be home on Sunday and assumed they would be home Monday, but now they are famous there are many interviews to do, screaming fans and people who just want to talk to them that we didn’t quite know when they were going to come home. They finally came home late Tuesday night and the word soon spread fast that after such an eventful weekend they were returning home. They were welcomed not only by our whole street but everyone who lived close by. Streets filled with party poppers, familiar faces and cameras from every direction trying to get a snap of these 3 boys that we are used to seeing everyday. They happily posed for photos, shared their experience, which isn’t always the same as what you read in the papers, and thanked us all for voting for them. But the stay was short and sweet. After only staying about an hour and a half they were rushed back out again for a live broadcast to America. That was it, just three normal boys were going global and we are all so proud of them. Fame hasn’t really affected them but we hardly see them any more, down to their great success keeping them so busy all the time and they’re absolutely lovin’ every moment of it. The fact that they have just won Britain’s Got Talent still hasn’t sunk in and their feet haven’t touched the ground. Matt said: “It’s strange to read a newspaper and see your face on the front and turn on the telly and you’re on Sky news, its just totally unbelievable.” They are just so excited and pleased with what they have achieved and we all wish them the best for the future. Congratulations!
DIVERSITY
