Kidnap victim to appear on TV talent show
A woman who hit world headlines when she was taken from her mother’s arms at 36 hours old is to appear on 'Britain’s Got Talent', it emerged today.
Alex Griffiths was snatched from a London hospital by a woman posing as a social worker, and found in a Cotswold cottage after a 17-day global police search.
The university student, now 21, will be seen performing a song and dance routine on the ITV1 talent show, which returns to screens tonight.
In an interview, Ms Griffiths said she wanted to be known for her talent rather than her story.
She told the Sun: “I want to impress people for who I am and what I can do, not because I was kidnapped as a baby.
“People were saying I should tell the judges my story as it could help me get through .
“I’ve watched loads of these shows and I know people use sob stories to get the judges in their side.
“But the producers understood my decision to stay quiet – and I don’t regret it.”
Her audition – a rendition of 'I Can’t Do It Alone' from the musical 'Chicago' - will be shown later in the series, it was reported.
She said performing for the judges was “one of the best things I’ve done”, and added: “In an ideal world, being on stage is what I want to do.
“I’m also considering taking a gap year after I graduate to go dancing on cruise ships.”
It was in January 1990 that Ms Griffiths was taken from a London hospital by a woman – coincidentally named Janet Griffiths but no relation.
Griffiths admitted stealing the baby in a desperate bid to save a relationship with her millionaire lover.
She was sent to a psychiatric unit but released after four months. She later died of cancer.
After splitting with her father, Ms Griffiths’ mother Dawn left London and returned to her home town of Middlesbrough.
Money offered by a newspaper for her story was placed in a trust fund and paid for Ms Griffiths’ private education at Polam Hall School, near Darlington, where she achieved an A-grade and two Bs in her A-levels.
She is now a maths student at Manchester University, but her main love is dancing, the Sun reported.
Former 'Baywatch' star David Hasselhoff and comedian Michael McIntyre join Amanda Holden on the judging panel in the new series of 'Britain’s Got Talent', which begins tonight at 8.20pm.
