Stafford teenager Sam Hollyman snubs Britain's Got Talent in contract row

Dec 19 2010 by Christina Savvas, Sunday Mercury

HE is the schoolboy tipped for music stardom after wowing crooner Michael Bublé with an impromptu stage duet.

But Sam Hollyman, 15, has snubbed an invite to audition for Britain’s Got Talent – because he would be forced to sign away his future career.

The Stafford teenager became an internet sensation after a YouTube video showed him stepping from the audience to sing with Canadian star Bublé at Birmingham NIA.

Sam was later invited to audition for the new series of Britain’s Got Talent, produced and judged by Simon Cowell.

But he rejected the offer after being told to sign a legally-binding contract which handed over the rights for all his future performances ‘throughout the universe’.

The four-page document would have also restricted what he could do at his school, Blessed William Howard, which specialises in performing arts.

Mum Paula, a traffic officer with West Midlands Police, said: ‘‘We had calls from various agents and were obviously thrilled when Britain’s Got Talent rang to ask Sam to audition.