hard times
I won Britain’s Got Talent but my career almost ended after finding fame on ITV show
The star revealed his struggles after taking part in the competition
BRITAIN'S Got Talent winner Jai McDowall has opened up about how is career almost ended after finding fame on the ITV show.
The 37-year-old singer won the fifth series of BGT back in 2011.
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Jai beat singer Ronan Parke to the top spot.
The Scotsman was signed to Syco Music after his stint on the talent show, but after a year, he was dropped - and he had to figure out what he was going to do next.
Speaking about his time after Britain's Got Talent, Jai said: "I think because I went into it as someone who grew up in a small village of about 5,000 folk, where I knew everybody, [I didn't realise] I was going into this big situation in London.
"It was quite a strange experience. I was doing a lot of press and then we went onto the tour and it was massive and we had loads of screaming fans and all of that sort of stuff.
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"I think inside I sort of freaked out a bit because I was like, ‘Oh god, this is bigger than I thought it would be, this is a bit scary!
"I don't know if I'm ready for this!'"
He continued to The Mirror: "I was with Sony at the time and we did the album and then they didn’t renew the contract so after that I was like, ‘Right, I need to take a step back because I don’t know how to navigate this new industry and this new job’."
The star then started writing by himself and toured Scotland.
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Prior to his stint on BGT, Jai appeared on The X Factor and The American Idol Experience.
After winning Britain's Got Talent, Jai released his first album Believe with Syco and Sony Music.
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After one year with the label it was revealed that his contract was not going to be renewed.
Over the years he's released a number of singles including Won't Forget, I Begin Again and Ain't Talking in a While.
In 2019 he released an extended play called Cry, Home, Closer.
He also appeared on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions the same year - and Simon Cowell apologised for dropping him from his record label.
Simon said: "I owe you an apology for not giving you the support I should have given you at the time.
"But I also respect the fact that you've come back to make me look an idiot, you've looked fantastic and I could not be more thrilled."
As well as that he's supported Susan Boyle on tour and performed in musicals.
Last year he joined The X Factor group G4.
Jai took over from Lewis Raines in the brand, which now includes Jonathan Ansell, Mike Christie and Duncan Sandilands.
G4 embark on their 20th anniversary tour this year.
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Britain's Got Talent winners
Britain's Got Talent has a gigantic hall of fame when it comes to its winners - from magicians, comedians to dance troops - the show has had it all. Here's a look back at each winner from each series...
2023 - Viggo Venn
2022 - Axel Blake
2021 - Cancelled by ITV due to the Coronavirus pandemic
2020 - Jon Courtenay
2019 - Colin Thackery
2018 - Lost Voice Guy
2017 - Tokio Myers
2016 - Richard Jones
2015 - Jules O’Dwyer & Matisse
2014 - Collabro
2013 - Attraction
2012 - Ashleigh and Pudsey
2011 - Jai McDowell
2010 - Spelbound
2009 - Diversity
2008 - George Sampson
2007 - Paul Potts
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