An Irish singer on Britain’s Got Talent has hit back at claims that he is a professional singer after being recognised as a West End star by the judges.
Dublin-born Brian Gilligan left the judges in tears and garnered a standing ovation from the audience with his emotional performance of the A Star Is Born track I’ll Never Love Again on Saturday.
But viewers hit out at the singer, after judge David Walliams admitted he had seen the 32-year-old on the stage before in West End rock musical, The Commitments.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, Brian revealed the heartbreaking reason he wanted to audition despite his successful showbiz past.
He said: “I suppose the main reason, the significant reason for me to do the show, I was trying to find a motivation out of a struggle to do something that would be a massive challenge and expose me on a platform in front of four judges to give their opinion.
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“I wanted to hear it from them. To go out and perform and not know what the reaction would be from the audience.
“It’s psychological boost a boost of confidence, it’s given me a different energy and I want to get up and do another round.”
Brian has enjoyed success in the past, having appeared in various stage shows and musicals in the past and working alongside Samatha Mumba in a panto in 2011.
However, opening up about a tough few years that followed, he recalled the devastating moment he discovered his 55-year-old brother, Dave, had died from a heart attack while he was away.
He said: “I was in London at the time and got a call from my other brother. It was very quick and instant. It was a moment I had to take a step back and register what had happened.”
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But after welcoming his son Leo nine-months-ago, Brian, who was suffering from depression after the tragic loss of his brother said he was inspired to get back on the horse and to audition for the hit show.
Brian said: “I wanted a challenge and a motivation to get up as a singer and a solo artist specifically to spur myself on because I’ve been struggling with this depression and these up and down feelings.
He said: “Sometimes you wake up and feel great, sometimes you feel down in the dumps.
“You’re quite exposed in that way. Your strength is you and you have to get yourself through these performances by yourself.”
