Paloma Faith surprises teen in Liverpool ONE after emotional moment with mum

The first episode of Channel 4’s Your Song kickstarted with an amazing performance from a Liverpool teenager

Channel 4’s latest series kicked off tonight with an episode filmed in Liverpool. Hosted by Alison Hammond, Your Song gives amateur singers the chance to perform on stage.

Following the success of The Piano, which is fronted by Claudia Winkleman, Your Song follows a similar format as participants will perform a song on a pop-up stage in various cities up and down the UK.

Bootle-born pianist Brad Kella made a name for himself on The Piano after wowing mentors Mika and Lang Lang. Your Song allows ordinary people the same opportunity, this time showcasing their vocal talent.

In this case, Sam Ryder, who shot to fame after representing the UK in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, joins BRIT Award-winning singer Paloma Faith as mentors as they guide the singers to success.

Singers will take to the stage, performing the one song that means the most to them, with everything from original compositions to covers of iconic anthems. Meanwhile, Sam and Paloma will be hidden from the singers during their performances.

The performers will be hoping to impress the mentors, who will choose an overall winner at the end of the series to perform on stage at London’s Hackney Empire.

Camera crews descended on Liverpool One in September last year to film the upcoming series. Several vocalists took to the stage and performed in front of crowds alongside a house band. The singers were whittled down from thousands of applicants for the chance to perform on stage.

First out the gate was teenager Elliot. The 17-year-old from Liverpool dedicated the song to his foster mum, Mary. He said: “I’ve never put myself up for anything like this before but I’ve got my mum backing me. She’s the best person in the world.”

Elliot said he started singing as a form of escapism as he was going through a “rough patch” in life. Elliot came to be with Mary when he was five-years-old.

Mary said: “I’m more nervous, my legs will go when he starts singing. I knew right from the start he was going to sing. He is constantly singing in the car. He was only supposed to be with me for six weeks, but now he has been with me for 12 years.”

Elliot sung Andrea and Matteo Bocelli’s Fall On Me. He said he isn’t so good with words but the song says everything he wants to say to his mum.

The song ended with a thunderous applause and some teary-eyed crowd members and Paloma Faith surprising the teenager with a hug.

Paloma said: “You’re so special Elliot and he is a real testament to you Mary. Thank you for bringing out the best in mum, that is what the world needs.”

Your Song airs every week on Channel 4 at 9pm. Speaking about the show Alison Hammond said: “I love the power that music and singing your heart out has, it can literally change your mood – put a smile on your face, make you sad, make you reminisce, so I’m really excited about this new show which is about real people telling us their stories through song.”