Graduate stars in Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals! 

16 December 2015

A 2008 Queen’s French and Spanish graduate, Patrick Smyth who has been starring in West End shows for the last 5 years, has appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing – singing solo!

Patrick Smyth, who comes originally from the Cavehill Road in Belfast, made his debut on the show in November as one of the four main singers performing songs for the celebrity/professional dancing duos.

During the recent semi-finals an audience of over 10 million heard Patrick sing Too Darn Hot for Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke’s Charleston and New York, New York for Anita Rani and Gleb Savchenko who were dancing the Foxtrot.

Speaking exclusively to The Irish News, Patrick said: "In March, I worked with Hayley Sanderson, who is one of the lead vocalists on Strictly. Along with my group, the 4 Tunes, we had been recording an album with her partner, so Hayley was hearing me sing.

"I dropped a not-so subtle hint that I loved Strictly and it actually came at a time when they were opening the door for new male vocalists for the show.

"Hayley arranged for me to meet Dave Arch and Tommy Blaize (from the show) and they invited me to sing at the end of Strictly rehearsals about a month and a half ago."

Patrick got his first break in November when he was asked to perform a solo of The Final Countdown for Giovanni Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice.

It’s all a far cry for the boy from North Belfast who attended Aquinas Grammar School, was a member of St Agnes Choral Society and played drums for the Down and Connor Folk Group.

After graduating from Queen's in 2008, Patrick trained at the Royal Academy of Music completing a post graduate course in Musical Theatre in 2009. He has since performed in several West End musicals including We Will Rock You by Ben Elton (based around the music of rock legends Queen) in the Dominion and in The Phantom of the Opera by Cameron Mackintosh in Her Majesty's Theatre.

In 2010, he also had a solo piece in the T Mobile ‘flash mob’ commercial Welcome Back, shot at Heathrow Terminal 5.

While he is not scheduled to perform in the Strictly Come Dancing final this weekend, Patrick was particularly pleased to have been asked to sing the Sinatra classic in the semis. "I had two solo pieces, Too Darn Hot and New York, New York, which I was so proud to sing on what would have been Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday."

"Let's hope the door remains open, it's a fantastic show to be involved with," he said.

Inquiries to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office; tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5321

For full story see this week’s Irish News; headline image: ©BBC; main photo: Casting Call Pro

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