He delivers the news, now he’s making the news. A Goldstream Gazette newspaper carrier from Langford is preparing to, hopefully, take the world by storm when he auditions for Britain’s Got Talent.
Singer Christopher White will be travelling to London in September to audition for the talent show that made an unsuspecting Susan Boyle a worldwide sensation, under the critical eye of judge Simon Cowell.
A singer for many years, performing as a background artist and in choirs, it has been 45-year-old White’s lifelong dream to step into the spotlight and make the big time. But it was watching vocalist Sydnie Christmas win the U.K. television contest earlier this year that inspired him to get off the couch and reach for the stars.
"I thought to myself, ‘Why can't that be me?’” said White. “Why can't I have that opportunity to experience what she has? Why are so many other people going in front of me to have what I dream of?”
Having dual citizenship with Canada and U.K., White opted for the U.K.-based version of the talent show.
“Dreams do come true,” said White about the moment he received the news that he had been chosen to audition.
For his audition, White will be performing the uplifting number, ’Believe’, a song made famous by Laura Bretan and The Tenors in 2020.
“The goal is hopefully a record deal, recording the songs of my youth that I grew up with,” said White. “And maybe writing my own songs as well, but that comes with practice.”
Fame and fortune is not the only reason White is auditioning. He also wants to raise awareness of functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition he was diagnosed with five years ago.
FND is a neurological condition caused by changes in how brain networks work, causing multiple symptoms that can significantly interfere with how a person functions and copes with daily life.
“It's a challenge, a personal challenge for me to overcome,” said White about his upcoming audition. “With the FND, I've had seizures in the past, but I’m on medicine which is helping. But, ultimately, I just want to run through the fire and come out the other side of the audition, unscathed and successful. And raise awareness of FND - much more needs to be done.”
Currently, White’s friends and family are in the dark about his upcoming, potentially life-changing audition.
“Well they’re about to find out now,” joked White.
