Talent show winner Sydnie Christmas is gearing up for the release of her debut album, My Way, this autumn.

After years of being in character, the singer, who grew up in Gravesham, took on one of her most daring roles earlier this year when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent – being her authentic self.

“I remember before going on looking in the mirror behind the stage and being like ‘Just be yourself. This is scary because you’re not being a character. You haven’t got a script. Just don’t think about it. Just be yourself’,” the singer recalls in an interview with Naomi Clarke.

“And I just trusted myself to just not think about it and just go on and play it by ear. And I’m so glad I did.”

Sydnie first dazzled the judges with her bubbly personality before stunning them with her powerful vocals. However, she had an uphill battle on her hands as music mogul Simon Cowell was not a fan of her song choice – Tomorrow from the musical Annie.

Following an emotional rendition of the ballad, she received rapturous applause from the audience and all the judges gave her a standing ovation, with Amanda Holden branding it the “best version” of the song she had ever heard before awarding her a golden buzzer.

She sailed through to the semi-final with her version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way, landing her a spot in the final where her performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow secured her the crown, the £250,000 prize and a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.

During her audition, she revealed her dream was to perform in the West End after trying to get her foot through the door for years.

After graduating from the D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Bromley in 2014, Sydnie made her “off-West End” London stage debut in the musical Lazarus and performed on cruise ships.

The singer and former New Ash Green Rugby Club teammate saw the ITV competition as one of her final chances, having experienced a run of unsuccessful auditions.

“I wanted to be in the West End, I wanted to be close to my family, and they just weren’t letting me. It was just ridiculous,” she says.

“So I went on BGT, I’d not say as a last resort, but I was going to call it a day. I think that’s what made me brave. I was going to go ‘What a nice thing to do, I’ll get my one last rodeo’ sort of thing. I’ll see how it goes.”

She hasn’t given up on the hope of performing in a West End production one day, but for now she is doing things her own way.

Since winning the show, she has been working on her debut album, My Way, which includes new recordings of the songs that she wowed with on the show, along with a number of other covers which showcase her impressive vocals.

Sydnie will also make her panto debut at Dartford’s Orchard West Theatre as Fairy Christmas in Sleeping Beauty from December 14 to January 5, 2025.

The 29-year-old is also set to embark on a UK tour next year with stops in cities including Glasgow, Liverpool and London, where she will get the chance to perform at the Aldwych Theatre – a West End venue.

“I’m hoping it’ll all be worth it when the album’s out and when I’m on that stage doing my tour,” she muses. “That it will be like, ‘Oh my god, I’ve done it my own way’.

“I’ll get on the West End stage for one night at the Aldwych Theatre, but I’ll be like ‘There you go, I’ve done it my way’. No-one would let me in so you make your own show.”

The excitement doesn’t stop there for Sydnie, as she will perform in front of members of the royal family at the Royal Variety Performance this November.

“I’m sort of setting myself up for life now within the profession that I’ve always wanted to be in,” she says from her family home in Kent where she lives with her parents.

“Nothing is certain, of course. I’m quite a worrier so it’s very overwhelming and I still don’t believe it. I don’t believe it until it all happens, sort of thing. But I’m just hoping and working hard so that things will happen.”

Sydnie’s debut album My Way is out on October 4 and her headline tour kicks off in February.

You can book tickets to see Sydnie in the Orchard West Theatre panto here.

You can also book by calling 03433 100033.