Britain’s Got Talent viewers saw Taryn Charles deliver an amazing audition on Saturday night, culminating in her receiving Bruno Tonioli‘s golden buzzer. But her connection to BGT judge Simon Cowell goes back a very long time indeed.
Charles, who is now a music therapist and teacher for children with special educational needs, grew up close to the offices of Cowell’s record label in London. When she was a teenager with musical dreams, she actually met the man himself.
“From a young age, I looked up to Simon. I met him when I was 15 and said to him: ‘You’re gonna give me a record deal one day’,” said Charles in a new interview with the Mirror.
The 39-year-old might yet get her wish in the wake of her incredible audition for Britain’s Got Talent, in which she earned a standing ovation for her performance of the classic Aretha Franklin hit (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Watch: Taryn Charles’ memorable Britain’s Got Talent audition
“I think my voice is alright,” said Charles modestly to the judges before she opened her mouth to sing. Her amazing vocals left all the judges in shock, with Amanda Holden saying she had goosebumps.
Tonioli was particularly stunned by the performance and pressed his golden buzzer, sending Charles straight through to the live semi-finals.
We can only assume this was what Tonioli was referring to in his pre-series interview, in which he referred to a contestant having an “Adele moment” in which they reimagined a famous song.
Reacting to Charles’ performance, the former Strictly Come Dancing judge said: “I’m not bragging here, but I had the honour to meet [songwriter] Carole King. She stayed at my house. When you started, I thought ‘how’s she gonna do this?’
“You made me forget about her version. You made it so much your own with so much feeling. The colour of your voice is unique and you’re a very, very, very special person, my darling.”
Reflecting on the moment in her new interview, Charles said: “I don’t remember the golden buzzer moment at all. I remember jumping up and down and suddenly screeching that I’d wet myself. I hadn’t really, but it was the only thing I could think of to say. I didn’t feel I sang my best, so the golden buzzer was very unexpected.”
All four of the Britain’s Got Talent 2024 judges, as well as hosts Ant and Dec, have now used their golden buzzers since the auditions started airing in April.
Ant and Dec sent martial arts act Ssaulabi Taekwondo Troupe through, while Holden chose musical theatre singer Sydnie Christmas and Cowell went for Japanese dance troupe Cyberagent Legit.
Alesha Dixon opted to honour the heart-warming Ravi’s Dream Team — a choir led by an eight-year-old brain tumour patient, along with other patients and medical professionals.
Britain’s Got Talent returns on Sunday 12 May at 7.40pm on ITV1.
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