THE PIANO
NEW SUNDAY, 9PM, C4 ENTERTAINMENT
Liverpool Lime Street Station is bustling with harried commuters, who stop in their tracks when they hear the tinkle of a piano above the blaring tannoy. From the centre of a burgeoning crowd, a fast tempo jazz tune is being belted out and TV Times spots presenter Claudia Winkleman swishing her famous fringe to the beat.
We’ve been invited to watch filming for the second series of C4’s hit show The Piano, which stole the nation’s hearts when it debuted last year as budding musicians showcased their skills in UK train stations, unaware that world-renowned classical pianist Lang Lang and pop chart-topper Mika were secretly observing.
This week, the talent search returns to our screens for a seven-part run, which will see Lang Lang and Mika choose one lucky virtuoso from each station to perform in a special concert at Manchester's Aviva Studios, with ticket sales helping to fund more pianos in stations across the UK.
After a day of performances, we sat down with The Traitors host Claudia, 52, Chinese superstar Lang Lang, 41, and British Lebanese singer-songwriter Mika, 40, to chat about their eagerly-awaited encore...
The first outing was such a hit - how does it feel to be back filming the most uplifting programme on TV?
MIKA Incredible! We were amazed by the reaction to Series 1, which was a beautiful little project that was shot as more of a documentary. The whole thing has been such an astounding, tender surprise.
LANG LANG I knew it was going to be different from other talent shows out there, but I didn’t expect it to be such a success!
This story is from the April 27, 2024 edition of TV Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 27, 2024 edition of TV Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Nicky left FOR DEAD...
Ethan abandons him when they're involved in a car crash
TREASURES of Thailand
SUE PERKINS on exploring the wonders of the Southeast Asian country
LOVE & MARRIAGE
How a dream wedding has a complex seating plan in a starry romcom...
What lies BENEATH
EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER and JAMES CHASE on how a groundbreaking episode of Emmerdale hopes to show relationships in a new light...
Family HEARTBREAK
Billy and Dawn discover baby son Evan is seriously ill
Daddy's HOME
Billy's in for a shock when his estranged father Stevie turns up
Bianca's BACK!
Can she save the day for Whitney when youngster Britney is taken away?
ROV COLLAPSES
The stress proves too much for the incarcerated cafe owner
GAME on!
IDRIS ELBA and ADAM PALLY on joining forces for a high-speed Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off
An epic ROMANCE
ANNE HATHAWAY and NICHOLAS GALITZINE on their age-gap movie