BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner Jon Courtenay is busy putting the final touches to a new show as he prepares for a return to the stage before a live audience for the first time in 15 months.
It will be a case of third time lucky for the 48-year-old entertainer from Mossley as the show at Blackpool Opera House on Thursday, June 10 have twice previously been postponed through Covid-19.
It had been scheduled for December and January but has been given the go-ahead following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
The venue brings back happy memories for Jon who appeared on stage there last year for the Royal Variety Show before a virtual audience. That was one of the prizes for his victory in BGT.
“It will be emotional going back on stage after so long – my last live show was on a cruise ship back in March 2020 – and returning to the Blackpool Opera House will bring back happy memories of the Royal Variety Show,” he said.
Since then, Jon’s only live performances were at a Christmas show at Buckton Vale Primary where son Alfie attends and in a pub garden in Dorset after he promised a friend he would do a gig when he took over the pub.
Jon added there will have to be some adaptations with some lockdown restrictions still in place.
“There will still be social distancing and not a full capacity and there will not be an interval. It will be a whole new 60-minute show which is exciting.”
It will contain the songs performed on BGT and other material which has been put together with help from a creative consultancy into a coherent show.
Jon is to spend five days from June 5 in the MAODS (Mossley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society) studio at Woodend Mill, Mossley, for the final rehearsals.
In return for their hospitality, Jon will put on a song writing workshop for MAODS.
Jon will be performing at Butlins holiday camps at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness during the summer before a 24-date nationwide tour between September 19 and November 9.
It starts at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich, and ends close to home at The Lowry, Manchester.
• To find out tour dates, go to www.joncourtenay.com/uk-tour
• Anybody wishing to book Jon can do through www.greenfairyproductions.com