Collabro

Collabro are a British vocal group from the United Kingdom who form in January 2014 and stay active from 2014 onwards. They specialise in musical theatre and also sit within pop and classical crossover territory. The group consists of Michael Auger, Richard Hadfield, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan and Thomas J Redgrave.

Formation and early line-up

Jamie Lambert and Matthew Pagan know each other before the group forms. They use social media to look for three more singers to complete the line-up, and Pagan and Lambert hold auditions that lead to the recruitment of Michael Auger and Thomas J Redgrave. Richard Hadfield joins after they find him on YouTube singing “Bring Him Home”. The five sing together for the first time at the Miller pub in London Bridge.

Britain’s Got Talent

Collabro audition for the eighth series of Britain’s Got Talent in London a month after forming. They perform “Stars” from Les Misérables and receive a standing ovation from the audience and the judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams. The judges initially have low expectations because of the group’s styling and how recently they have formed, but all four give them a unanimous yes. Cowell calls the performance a hit record, and Holden is moved to tears.

The judges choose them to go through to the live semi-finals, where they sing “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables. They again receive a standing ovation and the highest public vote in the semi-final, with 62.3% of votes cast, which sends them straight to the final. In the final they perform a different arrangement of “Stars” and win the competition with 26.5% of the vote.