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Claudia Winkleman and Mika trawl train stations for undiscovered pianists in C4 contest The Piano

Claudia Winkleman and Mika are teaming up for a TV talent contest. (Getty)
Claudia Winkleman and Mika are teaming up for a TV talent contest. (Getty)

Claudia Winkleman and Mika will be touring some of the UK's busiest train stations in search of the next undiscovered star pianist.

The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing host Winkleman is fronting Channel 4's talent search The Piano, which sees her visit rail stations featuring public pianos to look for skilled musicians who have never had the chance to develop their playing.

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She will meet talented amateur pianists of all ages at the public pianos in London St Pancras, Leeds, Glasgow and Birmingham train stations, where they will share their stories and music.

Channel 4 says of the new show: "From nonagenarians who have been playing for 80 years to 12-year-olds who have never played in public before, those who taught themselves to play the classics in lockdown to players who feel the music, composing pieces about their life experiences and someone with no sight who against all the odds has mastered Chopin, commuters in train stations across the country will be stopped in their tracks as heartfelt, emotional and uplifting performances take place."

Claudia Winkleman is a host of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC)
Claudia Winkleman is a host of Strictly Come Dancing. (BBC)

But there is a twist that the pianists have no idea about – secretly watching them are Lang Lang, who is widely regarded as the greatest classical pianist of the modern era, and platinum selling pop superstar Mika.

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They'll choose their favourite pianist from each of the four stations for an opportunity of a lifetime, the final of the contest where they will be invited to perform on stage at the Royal Festival Hall on London's Southbank where they will play for an audience of thousands.

Man playing public piano in St Pancras station
The public piano in St Pancras station. (Getty)

Channel 4's head of specialist factual Shaminder Nahal said: "It’s so thrilling to be celebrating such an array of incredibly talented pianists - many of them self-taught - in such an emotional and uplifting series.

"Claudia Winkelman and the fantastic judges Mika and Lang Lang take us on a journey through London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds – and finally the Royal Festival Hall, creating a joyful and moving portrait of Britain, full of humanity, surprises, and the transformative power of piano-playing."