When 15-year-old Kyle Tomlinson walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage in 2017, the nerves were visible — but they weren’t the only thing he carried with him.
He also carried a memory.
A memory that had shaped him.
Rejected at 12, But He Didn’t Give Up
Three years earlier, Kyle had auditioned for BGT and was told by judge David Walliams that he wasn’t ready. The advice was blunt:
“You need singing lessons.”
It was the kind of comment that could shatter a young dream. But Kyle didn’t let it.
Instead, he went home… and got to work.
Three Years of Hard Work Behind One Performance
Kyle spent the next three years training with a vocal coach, strengthening not just his voice — but his confidence, his presence, his belief.
And now, at 15, he was back. Standing on that same stage. Facing the same judges. Including the one who had doubted him.
He Chose ‘Hallelujah’ — And Made Everyone Believe
Kyle could’ve played it safe.
But instead, he picked Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” — a haunting, emotional ballad that challenges even the most seasoned singers.
From the first note, the theatre fell silent.
His voice was no longer that of a nervous boy. It was rich, soulful, mature.
He sang with heartbreak. With strength. With every ounce of the pain and passion he’d carried for three years.
And when he hit the final note… the room exploded.
David Walliams’ Emotional Redemption — The Golden Buzzer Moment
The audience rose to their feet in thunderous applause. The judges followed.
And then, the most unexpected thing happened:
David Walliams stood up… and slammed the Golden Buzzer.
Golden confetti rained down. Kyle dropped his head in disbelief.
With tears in his eyes, David walked over and said:
“I’m really glad you came back and proved me wrong.”
It was more than applause.
It was redemption.
From “Not Good Enough” to Golden — Kyle’s Journey Is One We All Needed
Kyle Tomlinson didn’t just sing.
He reminded the world what it means to rise.
He turned rejection into motivation.
He turned doubt into drive.
And in doing so, he gave us all one powerful truth:
You can fall down at 12… and still rise golden at 15.
