Guernsey soprano to sing at National Television Awards

The NTAs, which take place at The O2 in London, attract an average of around six million viewers on the night and this is something that 24-year-old soprano Jemimah Paine is both looking forward to and nervous about at the same time.

Miss Paine is used to singing in front of crowds but she has said tonight's live performance will be the biggest crowd she has ever performed for.

'I'm very excited,' she said yesterday afternoon from the makeup room.

'I've never done anything for television before. It will be the biggest crowd for me for sure and then there will be so many watching too – my friends, my family and everyone who supports me. It's such a lovely feeling and I feel very privileged to be involved.'

She will be opening the awards as part of the NTA choir, with a 90 second piece of music in front of a crowd of 20,000 at the O2, as well as millions of viewers.

The singer, who graduated in 2017 from the London School of Theology with a bachelor of arts in theology, music and worship and has 16 years of singing experience, currently works as a singing teacher in West London but still has her roots firmly in Guernsey.

'My mum is really excited,' she said. 'I got involved through Roy Sarre [musical director of the Festiva choir] and Steve Thompson and I've done lots of concerts in the island.'

She has gone from being the soloist with a 50-strong choir in Guernsey to singing background jazz music for a carol service in Amsterdam.

'The support I've received has been lovely,' said Miss Paine.

* The NTAs will be aired live tonight on ITV at 7.30pm.