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Diversity get their first gig
By Peter Dominiczak, Evening Standard Last updated at 09:46am on 01.06.09The shock winners of Britain's Got Talent have been lined up to perform in front of thousands of people at a major London festival this summer.
Brothers in arms: Diversity, who put in a flawless performance in the final
Dance group Diversity are set to play the Wireless Festival alongside tsuperstar rapper Kanye West and Alesha Dixon.
The 11-member dance group, from east London and Essex, will play the show in Hyde Park on 5 July after completing the BGT national tour with the other finalists.
Diversity include three sets of brothers and the proud family of Ian, 25, Matthew, 23, and Jamie McNaughton, 16, today said their sons believed they had no chance in the final against Susan Boyle.
Their father, Stewart, 63, from Basildon, said: “None of us expected this. The boys were just hoping to finish in the top three. I spoke to them on the phone today and they are in shock. They are just amazed the hotel they've been moved to has a view of the London Eye.”
Mr McNaughton said his eldest son had been planning to go back to work this week. Until they won a place on the talent show, Ian worked in IT for a City law firm, Jamie was working part-time in telesales and Matthew had just left Redbridge college, where he had been studying music composition.
Fellow members Perri Kiely and Mitchell Craske, both 13, are set to return to school this week and Jordan Banjo, 16, has GCSEs.
The brothers' mother Chandra, 53, said: “The boys have not been raised to go after fame and fortune, but now they have it and I think they will cope well. I'd like them all to have careers to fall back on though.”
Mr McNaughton said Ian and Jamie started dancing 18 years ago in Dagenham.
It was just a hobby for them, he said. “Matthew followed them into dancing because he looked up to his brothers so much.”
James Narh, who discovered both Diversity and their rivals Flawless at his Street Dance UK Championships, said he was “overjoyed” to see Diversity win.
He revealed that the group were inspired to form their troupe after attending a performance by Flawless — the act they beat in Saturday's final.
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Reader views (14)
I agree with Frank Flawless were.. to be honest Flawless, the staggered run at the beginning was unbelievable and they danced more, Diversity relied on gimmicks (ie throwing the kids around around and the red buttons apart). To be honest I think it was luck of the draw if they had been first Flawless would have been remembered more..
- Pedro, Nth London
I thought they deserved to win, being the best talent act on the night (though Stavros was very funny and kind of deserved it just for being a decent bloke!).
- Isabel, Woking
The best winning act from the start of the show! Although they are all still young, they will be immaculate as they grow up and hopefully beat the american counterparts!
- N, London
Why aren't we told the exact number of votes for each contestant? And why are we not told who or what company is in charge of overseeing the phone voting to make sure there is no cheating or manipulation?
I was shocked that Diversity won; in fact I felt Flawless were much slicker, tighter and more creative. Good luck to all contestants, in their careers and lives!
- Frank Warrington, The North
Fantastic boys. Good luck I hope you all go on to do better things.
God bless you all
- E Of London, London
WELL DONE DIVERSITY !!! Most deserved, and well presented. Here's hoping that this is the start of a rewarding career.
- John King, Cheshunt United Kingdom
I believe the best act won, they were flawless and had such great choriography (or how ever you spell it).
- Jackson Reynolds, fleet, UK
They are alright and I wish them well but they are not up to the standard of some of the American dance groups.
- Janet, London, UK
Who really won the public vote we shall never know.
Boyle is obviously not quite with it, her voice is but little else.
Stavros Flatley good fun but hard to sell.
The clarinet player already has a deal going. So who else apart from the dancers was going to win and bring in the moneeeee.
- Mr S.Port, London
I thought the dance was very good.But it took a lot of courage for one person to go out on stage and perform they have guts i feel so sorry for susan boyleson because shes in a client in london i hope she gets better. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Amy Uzzell, Cirencester UK
this group were unique in their style and very clever with their choreography. It's about time that a different kind of act won. Susan Boyle was ok but not the best singer on the show. Best wishes to diversity,
- M Myers, surrey
No - as the French say, 'cet idiot de public.' And no public is more idiotically swayed by the bitchiness of catty girl pop stars- than the British public. Anyone in Susna Boyle's shoes would be hugely depressed to have got so far - fame world-wide- for it all to come to nothing. She's not slow, she's not unstable, she is reacting as any sane person would to a shattering disappointment. And I do wish somebody would tell her as much. She swears, does she? She's misbehaving? GOOD FOR YOU GIRL! Who are these namby pambies, these fragile pansies who get scared to see a disappointed woman showing her anger? Good Lord, anyone would be angry at the cattiness of little Miss Lily or the insensitivity of journalists who call her slow. SUSAN BOYLE - YOU'RE A STAR AND AND A SHERO. ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO TELL THEM TO **** *** AND GET LOST. YOU'D BE MAD NOT TO - AFTER THEY ROBBED YOU OF YOUR PRIZE...
- Cassie, Crouch End
No but they will make more money with them, hence them winning, its just business.
- John Joe, Willesden, London UK
YES THEY DID DESERVE TO WIN, THEY WERE AWESOME
- E Sullivan, London
