George Sampson shot to fame in Britain’s Got Talent last year. This time he’s got plenty of talented opposition. Viv Hardwick reports.

AT 15 – he won’t be 16 until the end of next month – George Sampson has an even younger mini-me dance rival, in the shape of 11- year-old Aidan Davis who is keen to take his Britain’s Got Talent crown.

TV show judge Piers Morgan has already called Aidan as good as George and he’s currently 10-3 to win the 2009 event. An audience at the MetroRadio Arena Newcastle will be hoping to see both perform live on June 17 with the pair already on course to dance on the same Tyneside stage.

George won the chance last year to perform in front of Prince Charles at the Royal Variety Show and has gone on to complete a year of work offers before returning to become a guest on the show that made him a star.

He says: “I’m the guest artist and I can’t wait. I loved it last time round. In fact, it was the best thing about the whole Britain’s Got Talent experience.”

Of course, both might be eclipsed by contest favourite Susan Boyle or black dance act Flawless, who are the bookies’ other choices to compete hardest for the Britain’s Got Talent crown on Saturday.

Asked about his experience, George says: “For me, the telly contest went by too quickly. I did my audition and then, eight months later, it was all over in a week. It was only when it came to the tour that I really got to know the other acts and to make some good friends.

“I got on really well with singer Andrew Johnston, but he lives in Carlisle so it’s been a bit hard to keep in touch. But I see Faryl Smith all the time at premieres and opening nights.”

So what will George be doing this time round? “I’m keeping that under my hat. Let’s just say it’s going to be a completely new routine I’ve dreamt up myself and which I hope will be as good as – if not better than – Singin’ In The Rain,” he says.

George has just performed the routine again on the Oprah Winfrey Show after she sent him a personal invitation to fly to Chicago last month. With four other young performers he strutted his stuff in front of an audience of millions.

“It was a fantastic experience and Oprah was so nice. She’s got real presence, but also she makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the room,” he says. His year’s work has included appearing for a month in the West End musical, Into The Hoods, being featured in two internet advertising campaigns – one for NatWest, the other for Nokia – and making a DVD which went to the top of the charts.

Somehow he’s found time to study for his GCSEs. George has sat four so far and will complete the last exam a couple of days into the Britain’s Got Talent tour. “There’s a college round the corner from where we live and a tutor comes to the flat.”

He’s opted to sit his A-levels in business, computer studies, English and maths and says: “Who knows what will happen in the future? It seems a good idea to have some qualifications to fall back on.

“Mum and I moved to London when I was dancing in the West End and we’ve decided to stay on. Almost all my work is in the capital so it makes sense to be based here.”

But he admits he does sometimes miss life back in Warrington and all his friends.

“It’s the right decision, although I do sometimes get a bit fed up when I’m told I can’t go out because I might get recognised.

But look, I’m not complaining.

Britain’s Got Talent completely changed my life and has given me the opportunity of a career as an entertainer.’ He certainly knows what he wants. “Five years from now, my dream would be to be appearing in America in a stage musical of my life story. My ambition is to be an all-rounder: singer, dancer, actor.”

On the subject of adoring female fans he laughs and says: “The trick is to keep them happy but not too happy. Sometimes, there’s a very thin line between them being your fan and them thinking they’re your girlfriend.

“My job is making it clear exactly where that line stands. I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment but, if I did, all the other fans wouldn’t like it. But there’s plenty of time for that.

Anyway, I’ve got a tour to concentrate on right now.”

■ Britain’s Got Talent – Live Tour tickets on June 17 are £32.50 at the MetroRadio Arena, Newcastle and available from 0844-493-6666 or ticketmaster.co.uk.

■ Britain’s Got Talent’s last two semi-finals are tonight and tomorrow on ITV1 at 8.30pm, with the final on Saturday at 9.30pm.