James Edgington

James Edgington talks about being on Britain's Got Talent,Dame Judy Dench and his tennis skills. 

 For people that don't recognise you, how would you describe yourself? 
I'm confident, smiley and energetic. I'm not tall and not too small. I've got brown eyes, trendy mid-length hair and I guess I'm easy going. I guess locally I'm known as 'Son' off BGT or that lad from BGT.

How has being on Britain's Got Talent changed your life? 
BGT hasn't changed my life in an immediate sense but it has given me some notoriety with the media and public to actively pursue other avenues of work. BGT mainly gave me some fantastic training I had never really been through before. The chance to perform live on national television, work with Yvie Burnett who is just the most brilliant vocal coach and has worked with top stars in the world. Nigel Wright was our musical director and he is amazing. We also learnt a lot about interviews and live television and radio. Even though I trained as an actor I have never really experienced anything like that on such a big scale. 

I understand that you work with some charities, could you expand on what services they provide? 
Yes, I am the director and founder of The Jennifer Charity. Jennifer provides support for widowed fathers and children, which is the only charity in the UK that deals with this specifically. The needs of widowed fathers and children bereaved of their mother are quite specific not to mention psychologically difficult and we aim to help with this as an ongoing process.

You have done many functions but which has been your favourite? 
Last year I got the chance to perform both on my own and with my dad on the West End. It was a concert arranged for my charity by a London producer. It was a dream come true to perform these and I'm hoping to be back in a show or play someday. 

If you were given the opportunity to sing or act with ANYONE who would you choose and why? 
That's difficult. I would love to act alongside someone like Dame Judy Dench as I think being in the presence of her would make me raise my game and I love to be challenged like that when I'm working. As for singing alongside anyone I think my dream duo would have to be with a singer called Jill Scott who is my personal idol, a great actress as well. In more commercial sense I have always wanted to duet with someone like Christina Aguilera or a great like Aretha Franklin... sorry I can't pin one down.

What do you hope for in the future? 
I am hoping to work more extensively in TV and eventually film. I have a few TV projects lined up and currently being mentored by a great director. I have also really enjoyed the presenting work I have been doing over the past year so that is something I would like to develop. Writing is something I have a huge interest in as well so the possibilities are endless. I would also like to get back into the studio and write/record some more songs so that is another project that is pending... it's fitting everything in that seem to be the problem.

Do you have any hidden talents, if so what are they? 
I wouldn't say I have hidden talents... if I find something I am good at I usually expose it and run with it but I do play tennis at a pretty decent level and trained as a coach when I was in my late teens. People who know me are aware of this so it's not so hidden but I suppose it's something that I don't mention too much. 

What's the one thing you can't leave the house without? 
My iPhone! Absolutely not. Mainly because I play music through it in my car but also I need it for emails, called and Twitter of course! 

What has been the highlight of your career so far? 
The highlight was performing on the West End at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. It was fantastic and something that I will never forget.

What makes you happy? 
Performing in some way be it singing or acting... there is an escapism that you can't get from anything else. 

To Find out more about James follow him on Twitter @JamesEdgington