A blind 13-year-old pianist stopped commuters in their tracks during a powerful public performance on new Channel 4 talent show The Piano. Members of the public at a busy train station wiped away tears and started filming during Lucy's beautiful rendition of a highly-complex piece by Frederic Chopin.
The Piano is a new talent contest hosted by Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman. The programme sees talented amateur pianists perform at train stations around the country, without realising they’re actually participating in a competition.
Pianists are invited by the programme’s makers to play on pianos at London St Pancras, Leeds, Glasgow Central and Birmingham New Street railway stations. Cameras are placed around the piano as the show's judges - pop star Mika and classical pianist Lang Lang secretly listen in.
In each episode, one pianist will be chosen by the judges to perform at one of the world’s most celebrated concert venues. The overall series winner will perform in front of thousands of people at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
A video released by Channel 4 on social media shows talented Lucy playing Opus 9 Number 1 by the Polish composer as the judges look on in disbelief. "This is impossible," says Lang.
Grace Kelly singer Mika said he was "flummoxed" by the performance. "I'm speechless, I don't know what to say," added Lang.
The three-minute clip explains how Lucy, who is also neurodivergent, often covers her ears at the end of a performance. "She likes the applause but she doesn't like the sound of the applause so her fingers go in her ears for sensory reasons," the video explains.
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The Piano airs on Channel 4 on Wednesdays at 9pm. Episodes can be also be streamed for free on All 4.
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