West End actor performs with THE FRONTLINE SINGERS on Britain's Got Talent
Les Misérables and stage favourite Paul Wilkins took to the stage in the Britain’s Got Talent live semi-finals this evening (2 June) as part of The Frontline Singers. But, who are the amazing singers who make up this group?
One of the incredible people involved is Paul Wilkins, known for playing Marius in Les Misérables in London’s West End, and Claude Bukowski in the UK tour of Hair. Covid-19 was a difficult time for those working in the hospitality and entertainment worlds.
Wilkins said: “As the hospitality and educational sector began to close, the options for freelance/part-time work to support my career were practically none. It was at this sobering point that we needed to seek work that would be safe from closure and more importantly from Covid-19 itself. I drove to my local supermarket and requested positions for me and my girlfriend - I didn’t care what job it was, I just knew that it was important we had something. There and then, and to the manager's credit, I was offered an on-the-spot interview for us both to start work in 2 days’ time. As the daytime shifts were filling up quickly, we made the joint decision that night shifts (10pm - 7am) would be the best option.”
Paul worked there restocking shelves and safely getting through the pandemic. During this time, Paul’s friends - James Beeny and Gina Georgio - wrote a beautiful song titled ‘Strange Old World’ and, soon after writing it, they asked Paul to join many other key workers to create a remote recording in aid of NHS charities. He had no idea what the finished result would be like and was staggered when the video was published on YouTube. Seeing himself alongside some of the most courageous human beings, fighting through the pandemic, he felt inspired.
Although performing for a living, being part of The Frontline Singers and singing on Britain’s Got Talent, is a very different sensation. Paul continues to say: “The Frontline Singers are a group who sang to bring joy to their loved ones and people across the nation during one of the darkest times we have ever known. Of course, I perform for a living but, being part of The Frontline Singers is something entirely different - I am there to support them, and it is an honour. It is also a privilege to perform beside fellow national and West-End actors Thérèse O’Sullivan (Elf: The Musical), Devon Elise Johnson (Half A Sixpence) and Sam O’Rourke (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Half A Sixpence) - each worked in a key worker role during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
