Britain's Got Talent - MJ speaks to the E&S

Just a few weeks ago he was a virtually anonymous schoolboy – now he's performing in front of millions, pals with Simon Cowell and is stopped in the street for his autograph.

Wolverhampton teenager MJ Mytton-Sanneh's life has been transformed in an instant since appearing on Britain's Got Talent.

His group, New Bounce, sailed through the semi-final on Tuesday night, booking their place in tomorrow's final, with top judge Cowell even tipping them as "the ones to beat".

Thirteen-year-old MJ, a pupil at Smestow School, returned to Wolverhampton on Wednesday night. He revealed to the Express & Star today what his life has been like since appearing on the show.

"It has been absolutely incredible," he said. "People are recognising me in the street and have been asking for my autograph and taking photos of me. It's just mad. It's like one minute I'm just an ordinary kid and the next minute people are shouting my name in the street. It's crazy."

The teenager, who lives with his mother Heather in Finchfield, said winning the show with his three other bandmates would be a dream come true.

"When I heard our name being called in the semi-finals I was in dreamland," he added.

"We are going to make our final performance bigger and better than ever before. We'll set the stage on fire – you just wait and see."

Being on Britain's Got Talent is not MJ's first taste of stardom. For the last three years he has starred in West End Michael Jackson musical Thriller Live, also touring abroad. He said being on the programme was an entirely different experience – as he now got to meet celebrities such as Amanda Holden and Cowell.

"Simon is a really nice guy. Everyone thinks he is scary but he's just a big softie really," he said. "The support I've received from my family, friends, teachers and people in Wolverhampton has been amazing."

MJ is due to go back down to London today where he'll start rehearsing with bandmates Mitchell Zhangazha, 16, Kuan Fyre, 13, and James Anderson, 12.

After all this weekend's excitement he will prepare to take to the road for the Britain's Got Talent stage tour later this month.

By Laura Blyth