At just 12 years old, James Miller stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage and took on one of the biggest songs from the musical Wicked.
His choice was “Defying Gravity,” a demanding musical-theatre number that gave the young singer an opportunity to showcase his voice in front of the BGT judges and a live audience.
James’ audition quickly became one of the memorable young-singer performances from the 2026 series.
A Big Song for a Young Singer
“Defying Gravity” is one of the best-known songs from Wicked, making it an ambitious choice for a young performer.
James approached the song as a musical-theatre performance rather than simply treating it as a conventional pop cover.
His audition included powerful vocals and a confident stage performance, building toward the song’s major vocal moments.
Contemporary reports from the audition also noted that James received a standing ovation from the judges and audience.
The Judges React
James’ performance earned strong reactions from the BGT panel.
Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI and guest judge Stacey Solomon were among the judges during his audition.
After James finished, the judges stood to applaud his performance. Stacey Solomon also praised his falsetto, while Alesha Dixon described the ending as a “magic moment.”
The judges ultimately gave James four yes votes, allowing him to continue in the competition.
James Miller’s Musical-Theatre Style
One of the interesting parts of James’ audition was his choice of material.
Rather than choosing an easier song because of his age, he selected “Defying Gravity,” a major musical-theatre number associated with Wicked.
That decision allowed him to demonstrate several different aspects of his voice during the audition.
For viewers discovering James for the first time, the performance offered a clear introduction to his interest in singing and musical theatre.
Final Thoughts
James Miller’s Britain’s Got Talent audition was an impressive introduction to a young singer with a clear interest in musical theatre.
At only 12 years old, he chose “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, performed it in front of the BGT judges and audience, received a standing ovation and earned four yes votes to continue in the competition.
His later appearance in the semi-finals gave James another opportunity to showcase his voice and continue his BGT journey.
The original audition remains a standout example of a young performer taking on a challenging musical-theatre song on one of television’s biggest talent-show stages.
