Philip overcomes panic attacks to become BGT hit

Britain's Got Talent impressionist Philip Green is having the last laugh after overcoming his anxiety to become a hit act on the show.

The 21-year-old comedian told how he was bullied at school and suffered panic attacks, but put it all behind him to perform his impressions at the Britain's Got Talent live auditions, where he proved a huge success. Philip was a hit with the audience and wowed the judges, getting a unanimous four yesses to take him through to the semi-finals.

He revealed: "I experienced bullying at school, because I'm different. And they didn't like that because I wasn't one of the lads. And I've had panic attacks and anxiety before, but this is a great experience to change all that.

"I'm always about the future - forget the past, all about the future, so just live for now."

And the funnyman - who performed as a dancer in the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games - hopes to inspire other people who suffer from anxiety.

Philip said: "I think it's great. Because I have these panic attacks, but I just go out there and I do it, that's what's great."

He admitted he had been nervous of how the judges might react to his performance, especially Simon Cowell.

Philip confessed: "Obviously I was scared of Simon because he's known as a scary man. But it was so nice what he said, that I was a naturally funny guy."

Philip impressed the Britain's Got Talent judges with impersonations of celebrities including camp choreographer Louis Spence and former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon. But he is already working on new impressions for the semi-final.

Philip revealed: "I've got loads of different impressions that I do, I do Ann Widdecombe, I do Family Guy, I've got batches of them. And I've been working on the same people as well because I want to get it perfect."

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.