Channel 4 show which ‘brought viewers to tears’ returns with Christmas special
A CHANNEL 4 show that ‘brought viewers to tears’ will return with a Christmas special.
Claudia Winkleman joins Mika and Lang Lang for this one-off musical festive feast.
The special of The Piano was filmed last week and features last season’s successful pianists who were invited to Battersea Power Station to spread yuletide cheer.
After the one-off special, five-time Grammy award winner Jon Batiste will replace classic pianist virtuoso Lang Lang for the next series, which will air next year.
It is time for the composer to play a new note in his career.
As he passed the baton on, Lang Lang said: “Being a mentor on The Piano and spending time with the talented pianists has been a true joy….
“Due to international concert commitments, I will be stepping down for series three but am delighted to pass the baton to my dear friend Jon Batiste, who I know will be fantastic in the role.”
He added: “I will miss Mika and Claudia terribly but look forward to reuniting with them later this year filming the Christmas Special.”
The trio will visit five iconic railway stations as they search for the next piano maestro in the new series.
In the finale of series two, Brad, 23, from Liverpool, captured the nation’s hearts with his composition in tribute to his foster parents, Eve and Frank, who nurtured Brad’s love of music.
After first performing his New Beginnings song in Liverpool Lime Street Station, he ultimately won the show and performed on stage at Manchester’s Aviva Studios.
Proceeds from the concert have been used to place more pianos in train stations across the UK and maintain existing ones.
Brad has gone on to land an exciting musical opportunity collaborating with Rosie Danvers, who has worked with world class musicians like Noel Gallagher, Adele and Michael Kiwanuka.
He is now signed to Liverpool-based record label Modern Sky, which is home to artists such as Miles Kane, The Coral, Jamie Webster and Lottery Winners.
Brad is releasing his debut single, Eve & Frank, which is a love letter to his foster parents and has recorded his first album, which is due to be released in 2025.
“They sent me down to RAK Studios in London to record an album,” he revealed.
Eve and Frank rehomed him at the age of seven. He previously told viewers that before they took him and his twin brother Aaron in, the pair were severely neglected.
Channel 4's best competition shows
Channel 4 boasts a number impressive competition shows, but which ones are really the best?
Four in a Bed
- Reality competition show Four in a Bed has been airing on Channel 4 since 2010. It follows four couples as they take turns to stay at each others B&Bs and hotels, rating their stays along the way. The couple with the establishment voted best value for money are the winners.
Come Dine With Me
- Come Dine With Me has been staple British viewing since 2005, providing some outrageous telly moments over the years. Like Four in a Bed, the series moves around to different properties as it follows four contestants as they each host a (supposedly) gourmet dinner party for each other. After each dinner the guests score the host out of 10, will the winner being revealed on the final evening.
The Great British Bake Off
- Another national treasure, The Great British Bake Off welcomes a group of 12 amateur bakers to put their culinary skills to the test with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judging their efforts. One contestant is eliminated each week until the final three face off in the last week.
Bake Off: The Professionals
- Bake Off: The Professionals puts a twist on GBBO, pitting two teams of professional pastry chefs against each other in every episode. It’s up to judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden to determine who has what it takes to make it through to the final.
It all seems so far away from when he first asked for a piano after being inspired by a teacher at school.
His parents got him a keyboard which he picked it up really quickly.
“There was this government grant available to kids who’d been fostered, which funded an electric piano for me,” he added.
The Piano will air next month on channel 4, ahead of the new series in 2025.