This article was originally written by Charlie Fenton for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Sweet Caroline,” make room — “Nessun Dorma” may soon join the ranks of go-to karaoke songs. Earlier this month, a video of creative arts teacher Benjamin Gillham performing the opera classic went viral, leading the producers of The Voice UK and Britain’s Got Talent to reach out.
The 37-year-old was out celebrating the birthday of his friend Laura Beever in Liverpool, England, on April 7, when the duo decided to do some karaoke at a pub called Coopers Town House. Gillham performed “You’re My World” by Cilla Black and Beever sang a song by Eminem before she signed Gilham up (without his knowledge) to perform the iconic Giacomo Puccini song.
“She then said she wanted to [do] another song and she asked if I want to do ‘Nessun Dorma’ but I declined,” he told SWNS. “I had a couple of drinks, and there was a chance that the top notes wouldn’t have come out. But now I have her to thank, really, as the video went viral.”
Gillham — who has always dreamed of being a professional singer — put on a magical display to an audience of 12 people inside the small pub, bringing some to tears before receiving a standing ovation.
Coopers later uploaded the video on social media, and it has since racked up over 2 million views, with thousands of enthralled watchers leaving comments. Among the viewers were producers from BBC One’s The Voice UK and ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, who’ve since contacted Gillham asking if he’d like to apply to perform on their shows.
@coopersliverpool Ben 6
♬ original sound – cooperstownhouse
“The response has been incredible. Social media can be soul-destroying, but it has been really nice seeing all the comments about my voice,” he said, adding: “No one expected the video to land the way it did. The standing ovation at the end, even the woman next to me who was reduced to tears.”
As a teenager, Gillham auditioned for The Voice, The X Factor, and Britain’s Got Talent, but they were never televised. He then became a creative arts teacher at Foxfield School, a special education school in Merseyside, a position he said he “loves.”
“Seeing the joy that music brings [to the students], it means too much to them, it is a lovely place to work,” Gillham shared.
But the video has also reignited Gillham’s passion for performing, and he’s hopeful it will bolster his career as a singer.
“It has been quite emotional for me receiving all the comments about my voice, and then to be contacted by the talent show was just an incredible feeling,” he said. “I[’m] looking forward to seeing what happens next.”
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