Michael Collings was on the Regional News recently and said he regretted doing BGT: http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/...ns-got-talent/

Since appearing on the show, his relationship with his girlfriend [the father of his baby] broke down. He says that during BGT, he was forced by producers to sing songs he didnt want to sing and that he was disappointed by the amount of focus on his back story rather than his talent. He says that since the BGT final he wasnt offered a recording contract, even though the show labelled him as the 'Next Susan Boyle', and that he is now asking people to fund him so he has enough money to make an album. Asked if he would do BGT with hindsight, he shook his head and said no.

This is just one of the many examples of what can happen to finalists after BGT.

Such a shame as he was one of my favorites in that series.

Shouldn't that say the mother of his baby not father?

It is sad though. Just goes to prove that sometimes shows like these do more harm than good.

To be honest I don't really remember him too well but just goes to show you even getting that close to winning certainly doesn't guarantee you'll be doing it for a living, it is a shame though.

So he's moaning he wasn't offered a recording contract? That's hardly the shows fault. And going on the show gave him great exposure and gave him far more chance of getting one that if he hasn't gone on.

yawn same old same old. You are not guaranteed a record contract, the prize is to perform at the royal variety.

since appearing his relationship has broke down, but surely not because of appearing. a relationship does not break up because of entering a talent show

btw who was he again? oh just googled remember him now well it got him a house he lived in a caravan before and a management deal. its terrible that hes asking the public for money when charities are struggling to get donations

No one is forced to sing songs on a talent show.

Nobody made him take part.

Does he really think he'd now be a recording artist if he hadn't taken part?

Dream on

I genuinely can't remember him, but in cases like this it always seems to be everybody else's fault that their life hasn't been as rosy as they'd like. I'm sure he has a bit more money taking part in the programme than if he didn't.

This was Michael Collings audition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB98dcWkQqA

His audition was hyped up as that years "Susan boyle moment" and got 21million hits on youtube. Unfortunately for him, all the promises about record deals and success didnt materialise.

He makes it sound as if his relationship broke down simply because he appeared on the show, which I doubt is actually the case.
No one said he'd get a recording contract, the prize is a royal variety spot. I agree he was probably made to sing stuff he didnt want though

Maybe he's just not that good. Not good enough to progress his talent any further that is.

It's sad that things haven't worked out the way he hoped, but I don't see why he regrets doing it. He released a cover of "Fast Car", which presumably earned him some money and he took part in the 2011 BGT Tour, which I presume pays reasonably well.

The sad fact is, most of the contestants from these shows are instantly forgotten as soon as the new series begins (I had to Google him and even then, don't really remember him much). However, I do think the shows should do more to prepare their proteges for both the highs and the lows.

As for his relationship, it didn't seem that they were even living together when he auditioned, 'I split my time between the caravan site and Sarah's place in Plymouth.
'But I would love for us all to be together.' so I don't see how he can blame the show for the break-up.

I couldn't remember him until I just watched his audition back. I don't think anyone should go into the show expecting a record contract, it's not even part of the winning package if a singer was to win.
I don't think he can solely blame his relationship breaking down on the show.

Me neither. I liked him, but there are thousands (my own son included ) who can sing and play as well.

He isn't the first person to have mentioned this about BGT. Andrew Muir, a finalist from Series 2 told Simon live on air after he slated his song choice that he didn't want to sing the song and it was out of his hands. Ant and Dec immediately changed the subject.

Father and Son, a singing duo from Series 4 said that the song they sung wasn't their choice, and Simon was immediately very defensive.

And probably most memorably, a year later, Jessica Hobson said that she didn't choose the song she wanted to sing before breaking down in tears because of it. And on BGMT that night, Stephen Mulhern didn't let her speak but just moved on to the next act.

I find it very suspicious that when it's mentioned that they have sung a song that they didn't want to and then seeing the team's reactions. It's like they're saying, "Quick, let's cover it up and move on as quickly as possible and hope that nobody watching spots it."

I guess they don't call these types of shows career killers for nothing.

Somebody has forgotten that BGT isn't a singing competition...

Did he actually say he regrets the experience? I'm sure he just said he wouldn't do it again. He knows he is in a better position now than he would have been in without BGT.

I hate ingratitude. It's like the Scottish guy that won. He was awarded a record contract which is not even part of the prize and moaned about that as well. What is wrong with these people?

Boo hoo! I didn't win a recording career. Boo hoo! I wanted to be Beyonce! Boo hoo! Marmy, you promised!

Huh? What do you mean this is what can happen? You mean...life? How does the relationship with the mother of his child breaking down have anything to do with him appearing on the show? Similarly there was never any guarantee of him being offered a recording contract. He can't blame the show for his own naivety.

He said he wouldn't do it again nothing in that interview suggests he regretted it. The interview was up on Wednesday yet the op posts it today when BGT won the ratings battle last night.coincidence? I think not.

I don't remember Sam Kelly from last year signing to Simon's label and giving a interview moaning about it sounds like sour grapes from Michael IMO.

The problem is once contestants have been picked to appear on the televised auditions they have to guarantee that, if they are picked to go through to the live shows, they will definitely follow through and not leave, and that they will accept all stage management of their act. For singers that means they have to sing what they are told to - like it or not.

Some dance friends of mine did an excellent audition, but when they appeared live their "management" was such that their dance was a disaster. They were allowed to choose their dance, but were told what music they would be dancing to, which turned out to be completely wrong for their dance (timing etc).

The purpose of a real "talent show" is to find and highlight true talent, which means the contestants choosing the means to show themselves in the best possible light. The purpose of BGT is simply to provide lightweight entertainment for the benefit of the producers.

He was a worthy finalist, that is all.

And the thing is, if an act performs something that the producers have told them to perform, then it's not going to be as natural and effective than it would be if the act has total control over their performance. It's the act that knows best about what suits them the most.