She's tipped to win Britain’s Got Talent tonight, but down-to-earth Sydnie Christmas insists she’ll be back at work in the gym tomorrow.
Even with fame and fortune just over the horizon, the singer says she won’t quit her fitness centre job just yet – because she needs the cash. The 28-year-old laughed: “I’ve already had two weeks off – and I’m on a zero-hours contract. I have rent to pay!”
But even modest Sydnie admits the world could soon be her oyster after she belted out two big numbers to wow the judges and reach the final. Up to 10 million people are expected to tune in to the ITV1 talent show final tonight, and Sydnie hopes it will help her become a West End star.
“In a year’s time, I hope I’m living my dream,” she said. “I want to be doing what I love for a living instead of rolling towels and making shakes!” Bookies have made Sydnie the 2/15 odds-on favourite to scoop the BGT title – and the £250,000 cash prize.
She delivered a highly personal but faultless version of Frank Sinatra’s classic, My Way, in the semis. But Sydnie insists that her assured performance wasn’t all it seemed. She revealed: “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.”
One reason Sydnie felt nervous was because she sang her own version of the song. “It was My Own Way, wasn’t it?” she said. “I just really hoped it would land.”
Sydnie’s take on the track blew away the BGT judging panel, with Amanda Holden hailing her “fire and strength” and giving her huge hug at the end of the show. Bruno Tonioli described her performance as “stunning”, while Alesha Dixon branded Sydnie a “superstar in the making”.
Simon Cowell simply rated her an 11 out of 10, but modest Sydnie said: “I would have never thought in a million years I’d make it to a final. It is unbelievable. I’m ecstatic.”
Sydnie has been supported all the way by her proud boyfriend, Max Rizzo, and her grandmothers, Nanny Breda and Nanny Maureen. She said: “I wouldn’t be doing it if they were not there. I do look at them when I sing. I look into the audience quite a lot as I’m very much telling a story. I like to think I’m very conversational when I sing – I want people to understand what I’m saying.”
During the audition stages of BGT Sydnie, who lives in Kent, impressed with her incredible vocal range, even though she chose a song that one of the judges thought he didn’t like. She performed Tomorrow from the musical Annie, which Simon Cowell once said he hated – but Sydnie’s rendition made him change his mind.
After taking to the stage, she received a standing ovation from the entire audience as well the judges and Amanda hit her Golden Buzzer, sending Sydnie straight through to the semi-final.
The judge branded her performance “absolutely phenomenal”. Sydnie can add that compliment to many others – she has even received messages of support from music icon Gloria Gaynor and pop star Nelly Furtado so she is finally daring to dream about the future.
Sydnie said: “I’d love to be on the West End stage. I want to be near my family – and the West End is where to do it.
“With this opportunity, I feel like the world is my oyster at the minute. I feel up to any opportunity. I just want to grab it with both hands and jump into it.”
Britain’s Got Talent: The Final, ITV tonight, 7.30pm