The Piano, review: Claudia Winkleman's charming talent hunt hits the right note

I thought that I was going to dislike The Piano (Channel 4). It adheres to two wearisome rules of television talent contests: celebrity judges, and hopefuls only making it through the door if they have a heart-tugging backstory. Yet, after watching the first episode, I’ve fallen for its charms.

The contestants don’t actually know they’re appearing on a talent show at all. They have been invited (via a process which is never explained) to perform in St Pancras station, where for several years now there has been a piano available for passers-by to play. Unbeknown to the people taking part, they are being watched from afar by Lang Lang, the superstar pianist, and Mika, a pop star who can play the piano.

At the end of each episode they choose a winner, who will eventually perform in a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Lang Lang is looking for a musical talent with great technique. “But also someone who’s got a great story to tell,” adds Mika, because he has appeared as a judge on international versions of The X Factor and The Voice, and knows the drill.

So we have an Isle of Wight ex-raver who has “seen a lot of people die” from drug overdoses, a mother who gave 
up performing when her son was diagnosed with autism, and an 11-year-old who has lessons via Zoom with a Ukrainian tutor who tells him about falling bombs. Others have no sadness to speak of, but the producers think their jobs are incongruous: a truck mechanic who plays boogie-woogie and a construction site manager who plays Debussy.

I know, I know, this all sounds horribly manipulative. But when each person starts playing, it is just lovely to behold. Some are technically more proficient than others, but all are transported by music. It was a joy to watch Harry, a sprightly 92, who first performed in public at George V’s silver jubilee. He is devoted to his wife, who has dementia. “When I sit down and play the piano, it’s usually because I want to block everything out of my mind. You can’t play the piano if you’re thinking about something else,” he explained.

Claudia Winkleman, fresh from The Traitors, is the perfect host: kind, empathetic, funny, and able to put the performers at ease. As usual, she makes it look effortless.

My favourite was 18-year-old Melissa, who has only been playing for four years but who performed her own, beautiful composition. She didn’t win, though, because talent on its own won’t get you all the way in a show like this.