The Piano (TV series)

This article is about the UK TV series. For the South Korean TV series, see Piano (TV series). For other uses, see Piano (disambiguation).

The Piano
Genre	Music competition
Created by	Richard McKerrow
Presented by	Claudia Winkleman
Judges	Lang Lang Mika Jon Batiste
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	13
Production
Running time	60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company	Love Productions
Original release
Network	Channel 4
Release	15 February 2023 (2023-02-15) – present
Related
The Great British Sewing Bee The Great Pottery Throw Down

The Piano is a televised British music competition show that has aired on Channel 4 since 15 February 2023. It is hosted by Claudia Winkleman with Lang Lang and Mika as judges in the first two series, before Lang Lang was replaced by Jon Batiste.[1]

In July 2023 the programme was recommissioned for a second and third series, a Christmas special and a documentary on the first series winner Lucy Illingworth.[2]

Format

Amateur musicians are invited to publicly perform on street pianos in the concourses of major UK railway stations. Performed pieces include classical standards, contemporary chart hits, and original compositions, with some performers accompanying themselves with vocals.[3]

For the first series the competitive element was kept secret from the performers — the judges observe the performances from a nearby room, selecting one performer from each location to perform at an end-of-series concert at the Royal Festival Hall.[4]

Series overview

Series	Episodes	Premiere	Finale	Winner
1	5	15 February 2023	15 March 2023	Lucy Illingworth[5][6][7]
2	7[2]	28 April 2024	9 June 2024	Brad Keller
3	7[2]	TBA	TBA	TBA

Series 1 (2023)

The first series aired from 15 February to 15 March 2023 and ran for five episodes. The heats were held at London St Pancras, Leeds, Glasgow Central and Birmingham New Street with the final being held at the Royal Festival Hall. The series winner was Lucy Illingworth, a young blind girl who is also autistic and non-verbal. Illingworth went on to perform at the Coronation Concert and a commemoration of Fanny Waterman.[5][6][7]

Series 2 (2024)

The second series aired from 28 April to 9 June 2024.[8] The heats took place at Manchester Piccadilly, Cardiff Central, Edinburgh Waverley, London Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street. The series was won by Brad Kellaher.

Reception

The Guardian awarded the first episode four stars out of five and asking if it could be considered "Bake Off for pianos".[3][9][4] The Mirror considered the show to be "brilliantly simple" and life-affirming.[10] In contrast, the i considered the show to be "aimless fluff".[11]

International versions

Fremantle holds international format rights.[12] They have sold it to broadcasters in Australia,[13] Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Spain.[14]

Region/country	Local title	Network	Winners	Judges	Presenter(s)
Australia[13]	The Piano	ABC TV	Series 1: TBA	Harry Connick Jr. Andrea Lam	Amanda Keller
Denmark	TBA	TV2	Series 1: TBA	TBA	TBA
Germany	The Piano	VOX	Series 1: TBA	Mark Forster Igor Levit	Annika Lau
Netherlands	De Piano	RTL 4	Series 1: TBA	Roel van Velzen Dominic Seldis Daria van den Bercken	Chantal Janzen
Spain	El Piano	LaSexta	Series 1: TBA	Pablo López Mika	Ruth Lorenzo

References

1. "Channel 4 announces Jon Batiste as new mentor on The Piano". Channel 4. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
2. "Claudia, Mika and Lang Lang return to Channel 4 as The Piano is recommissioned for two further series, also commissioned a Christmas Special and documentary on the incredible Lucy". Channel 4. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
3. Hogan, Michael (3 February 2023). "'Bake Off for pianos': the spine-tingling talent show that makes people weep with joy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
4. Seale, Jack (15 February 2023). "The Piano review – Claudia Winkleman's new talent show is an utter delight". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
5. "'The Piano' winner Lucy set to perform at Coronation Concert", Pianist Magazine, 5 May 2023
6. Blue plaque unveiling for legendary Leeds pianist, teacher and competition founder Dame Fanny Waterman, 29 March 2023
7. "Watch as inspiring blind girl, 13, who starred on Channel 4 show gives performs at plaque unveiling in Leeds". Yorkshire Evening Post. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
8. McCrum, Kirstie (28 April 2024). "Everything about Channel 4 talent contest The Piano". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
9. Snape, Joel (23 February 2023). "Tinkling the ivories and tugging the heart strings: is The Piano the most uplifting TV talent show ever?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
10. Hyland, Ian (23 February 2023). "Simon Cowell will be grinding gears over Mika's life affirming show The Piano". mirror. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
11. Bootle, Emily (15 February 2023). "Channel 4's The Piano is more aimless fluff to add to the Great British Hobby-Off". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
12. Ramachandran, Naman (7 March 2023). "'The Great British Bake Off' Producer Love Productions' Format 'The Piano' Snapped Up by Fremantle". Variety. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
13. Knox, David (21 November 2024). "Upfronts 2025: ABC: New drama, comedy, factual and The Piano". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
14. Saiz, David (3 September 2024). "La Sexta une a Mika y Pablo López en 'El Piano', la revelación de Reino Unido que ahora llega a España". El Periódico de Catalunya (in European Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2024.

External links

• The Piano on Channel 4
• The Piano at IMDb
• The Piano at UKGameshows.com