Remarkably Collabro didn’t even know each other 18 months but it’s now been a year since the band won Britain’s Got Talent.

Since then they have had a number one album, performed in front of Wills and Kate at the Royal Variety Performance, signed a million pound US record contract and, this week, released their second album, Act 2.

Singer Michael Auger, 25, told News Shopper: “It has felt really quick but when you list out what you have done you think ‘how have I fitted it into that time?’

“Singing has always been all of our passions and it is great now to be doing that as a lifestyle.”


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As reigning champions, Collabro got a hero’s welcome when they performed at the Britain’s Got Talent semi finals.

Michael, who worked at a petrol station before the show, said: “Everyone was just so lovely to us.

“We saw the contestants and they were like ‘Oh my god, it’s Collabro’ and they were trying to sneak photos of us on their phones. Last year that was us with the other acts.”

Whereas they were once star struck, Michael said most famous people they meet are quite normal.

He said: “When you meet people like Ed Sheeran and One Direction – people that we idolise – they are just normal guys that want to chat about your shoes and your outfit and what you had for dinner.”

On Sunday, June 28, the five-piece will perform at British Summer Time at Hyde Park on a family-oriented bill alongside X Factor boyband Union J, CBeebies Justin Fletcher, Dick and Dom and loads more.

Michael said: “I think it will be really fun. We absolutely loved doing summertime shows last year, singing for thousands of people enjoying the sunshine.

“We had 50,000 people last year singing Let It Go back to us at Brighton Pride.

“We would to have everyone singing along and just enjoying the experience.

“Hopefully it will be a sunny day and we can enjoy some picnic food.”

Before then, the band will be working hard to promote their second album - aptly named Act 2 – which was released this week.

Like their first album, Stars, it features a mix of big musical theatre tracks (Memory from Cats and I Dreamed A Dream) as well as pop crossovers (such as the Friends theme I’ll Be There For You) and movie tunes (The Lion King’s Circle of Life).

The band invited fans – nicknamed Collaborators – to help choose tracks and their suggestions were whittled down to 20 which were recorded.

Michael said: “Based on those we thought about what would work, what would make a good album, what songs go together, which songs means stuff to us individually.

“We came to a set of ten and sat down and made sure everyone was happy – including Simon Cowell – and I think we have got a great balance between musical theatre and these pop crossovers now.”

The last year has been a rollercoaster ride for the five young men who barely knew each other before entering Britain’s Got Talent and Michael revealed the album title was nearly Friends, because that’s what they’ve become.

He said: “Now we’re literally brothers and best friends and we all know what makes each other tick and how to make each other happy if someone’s feeling a bit down and things like that. I think that’s really important.

“During the Britain’s Got Talent process we were so close because we all wanted that same goal and we all wanted to do so well and we were all just loving singing.

“Actually, to be honest, afterwards when we got rushed to the studio and rushed here, there and everywhere, it got quite intense.

“What was great was we all just started to feel so comfortable with each other that everything becomes a conversation rather than a shouting battle. That’s what’s really great.

“Everyone now is on the same wavelength to be honest.”

Collabro play Britain’s Biggest Family Event at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park on June 28th with Union J, Justin Fletcher and host of kids entertainment. Go to bst-hydepark.com for tickets.