Cardiff schoolteacher Lloyd Macey, 32, is leading The Glantaf Boys’ Choir in the Britain’s Got Talent semi-final after finding fame on the X Factor
Lloyd Macey on stage with the choir(Image: ITV/Talkback Thames)
Britain’s Got Talent choirmaster Lloyd Macey credits Simon Cowell with “everything” following his rise to prominence on X Factor. The 32-year-old Cardiff schoolteacher went on to manage a girl band and serve as a television judge searching for a Eurovision entry, mirroring the career path of the music mogul.
This evening he will be leading The Glantaf Boys’ Choir in the ITV talent show’s semi-finals, with well wishes pouring in across the nation. The new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth recording a good luck message.
Millions watched Lloyd and the choir’s stirring BGT audition performance of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman.
Head judge Simon told them: “You should be proud. I got quite emotional. This is just brilliant. This is what a great choir is all about, having fun, great song choices and a great leader.” For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
Many viewers may have recognised Lloyd from his fourth-place finish in the 2017 X Factor series, which was won by boyband Rak-Su. He used the television exposure to launch a music and stage career – ultimately pursuing some of the same ventures that Cowell himself has undertaken.
He says: “Simon has been like a mentor to me. And because of him and X Factor, it gave me the confidence that I can achieve things and I can go for it. I don’t think I would have been as confident and believing in myself,” reports the Mirror.
“The experiences I had helped me in terms of my career… radio work, TV work, judging Junior Eurovision, working with a band.”
Lloyd went on to manage a girl band called The Minis, penning two tracks for them which they recorded. He joined the judging panel of talent programme Search For A Star to select a Welsh act for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, he recognised that his entertainment career might diminish, prompting him to qualify as a Welsh teacher. While at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf secondary school in Cardiff, he chose to include both younger and older members in the boys’ choir to achieve a broader vocal range.
He encouraged them to audition for BGT – and has played a crucial role in guiding them. Nevertheless, Lloyd maintains that none of this would have materialised without X Factor. The show transformed him from a timid youth into a self-assured young man, and now he wishes to return the favour by emulating Simon.
He says: “I think it’s amazing that we have programmes like this. They give people the opportunity, like the boys, to do something like this. I owe a lot – well, everything – that I’ve done in terms of the performing industry due to Simon and X Factor and the incredible people I’ve met.
“But the fact is, this means that now I can do this with the boys. I can do this programme, one of the biggest programmes in the world, with them. What’s really lovely is some of the pupils who are quite shy in the choir have now grown in confidence since it’s been on the telly.
“You know, it’s lovely seeing other children congratulating them, teachers congratulating them, and parents getting in touch and saying ‘My son is so happy. He’s really grown in confidence since doing all this’. And you know, you can’t ask for more than that really.”
Unsurprisingly, the students have uncovered his reality television background. Lloyd adds: “Because of YouTube, they have seen me on X Factor but in the class the kids see Mr Macey!
“That’s why I always wear a blazer. Something smart. And if you are confident in front of them but not too strict then I think they respect that as well.”
Should the choir secure the £250,000 prize money, Lloyd would relish the opportunity to embark on a world tour with them and potentially produce a recording.
He says: “I think what would be really amazing would be to do an EP or an album. Record them – because, you know, 10 years down the line they’ll be older and then they can look back on this.”
Despite not having seen Cowell for nine years, Lloyd notes the TV judge remains as thoughtful as ever. He says: “Little things like he asked how my grandmother was, how’s the family – and then straight away he made it about the boys and that was really important to me.”
Lloyd must remain secretive about tonight’s song selection. He says: “All I can say is that it has got an emotional element to it. All I have said to the boys is ‘Enjoy it’.”
* Britain’s Got Talent is on ITV tonight at the earlier time of 6pm.
