A finalist on Britain’s Got Talent has opened up about what winning the show’s grand prize of £250,000 would mean to him, revealing he’s uncertain if he’s ever had more than £500 in his account.
Vinnie McKee stunned the panel during his audition for this season, leaving KSI, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon in awe with his voice.
The Scottish singer performed a dynamic operatic rendition of The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), eliciting such admiration from Simon that Vinnie earned the coveted Golden Buzzer, catapulting him directly into the live shows.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he expressed: “Things like this don’t happen to people like me.”
Currently employed at a holiday park, Vinnie is among the eight acts who, thanks to the public’s vote, have clinched a spot in the final.
In a recent interview, Vinnie discussed potential plans for the impressive £250,000 prize fund. He confessed he hadn’t given it much thought, even joking he might “pass out” from the shock of winning.
In a conversation with Yahoo!, he disclosed: “I don’t think I’ve had any more than £500 in my bank.”
The 30-year-old also discussed the challenging times his family has endured following his brother’s passing and mentioned his parents’ unwavering support.
He added: “My mum is my best friend, and my dad is my best friend. We are such a close family. They’re 70 this year. So I would probably get them a wee apartment so they don’t have to use their pension to pay their rent anymore.”
Reflecting on the life-changing moment since he first stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage, Vinnie has described the variety show as “the most incredible experience in my life,” also expressing: “I hope it never ends now.”
He continued: “Life is so short, my brother passed away last May and it broke the family a little bit.”
Vinnie reminisced about his mum’s encouragement to audition for Britain’s Got Talent following his brother’s death, describing the Golden Buzzer moment as “a whole turnaround moment.”
Recalling the emotional experience during the show, he said: “When the confetti fell on stage, I looked up to the sky and I just thought to myself: ‘Thanks for that.’ He was watching me that day.”
Britain’s Got Talent airs on Saturday at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
