Interview with Shaun Smith

Mr Broad caught up with Shaun and asked him a few questions for the school website. Congratulations Shaun… and thanks for giving up your time after your Biology exam… how did it go? I don’t think I’ll get an A but it wasn’t too bad! It’s been difficult to concentrate on any school work! Where do you go from here? On the tour, and see what happens after that. I hope something comes out of this experience and I’ll give it a go. On the tour will you be in hotels all the time or will you get home? Whenever I can get home I will, there are dates in Birmingham and Coventry so I’ll try to get home then. Will it be the same show/song or will you change? Some the same and some variations of approach – there might be some group work – me with Julian Smith perhaps. Will you be rehearsing every day? I go down to London on Monday for rehearsals to get the show ready for the first date in Birmingham on the Friday… I am really looking forward to it. What else will you have to do during the day on tour apart from travelling? Probably the odd interview. Have you got an agent or manager now? The Britain’s Got Talent programme staff sort most of that out – as yet I don’t need an agent but it’s been manic – my new phone has been going all the time. As soon as you got through to the semi final how did your life change? Recognition really, wherever I went people recognised me, they asked questions and some wanted autographs. What was your best moment in the show? At the end of my semi final and hearing my name go through to the final because that’s where I wanted to get to. I was so happy and thrilled – oh a brilliant feeling! What was your best moment in the hotel? Probably when my friends came down to see me on the Thursday before the final – it was nice to see normal faces, my mates again. What’s been your best highlight since fame hit you? Meeting Will from the Inbetweeners. Record deal, shows, panto… what else?! Hopefully any of these – there are a few rumours so some work should come my way but nothing is set up yet. Will you still play rugby? I certainly train with my mates and see what happens – I probably don’t need some of the teams we play trying to split my face open!! Teams like Willenhall….. How long do you practice for, daily? When I need to really, I go through things in my mind and practice at home, in the car or whenever I need to. How long does it take you to learn a song? Ooh about 5 minutes really… well, the words… it then takes ages to learn to sing the song properly. I learn the words really quickly – I wish I could revise like this really because I would do much better! What is SuBo like? She’s a lovely woman but I haven’t seen a lot of her the week before the final – I think she was in hiding… she was under huge pressure. Have you spoken to any of the judges since coming home? No… I saw them after the show and we had a quick chat but they are into other things straight away. Will they appear on tour at all? No I don’t think so, just Stephen Mulhern will be with us as he is the host/compere. What did you hear of the ‘campaign’ back home? I heard loads of pubs and clubs were having parties watching the show… it’s been great… and thanks to anyone who voted for me. Have you saved articles from the press? No, my Nan has though. What would you have done if you had won? Bought a new car ASAP, an Audi T7. Will you be at school next year? I think I am going to have a year off and see what happens… what comes out of the show and go from there. Shaun, thanks for your time and all the best for the future. Thanks Mr Broad.