KEYS to success

CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN, LANG LANG and MIKA on why their musical talent show hits all the right notes

- REBECCA MAHONEY

THE PIANO 

NEW SUNDAY, 9PM, C4 ENTERTAINMENT

Liverpool Lime Street Station is bustling with harried commuters, who stop in their tracks when they hear the tinkle of a piano above the blaring tannoy. From the centre of a burgeoning crowd, a fast tempo jazz tune is being belted out and TV Times spots presenter Claudia Winkleman swishing her famous fringe to the beat.

We’ve been invited to watch filming for the second series of C4’s hit show The Piano, which stole the nation’s hearts when it debuted last year as budding musicians showcased their skills in UK train stations, unaware that world-renowned classical pianist Lang Lang and pop chart-topper Mika were secretly observing.

This week, the talent search returns to our screens for a seven-part run, which will see Lang Lang and Mika choose one lucky virtuoso from each station to perform in a special concert at Manchester's Aviva Studios, with ticket sales helping to fund more pianos in stations across the UK.

After a day of performances, we sat down with The Traitors host Claudia, 52, Chinese superstar Lang Lang, 41, and British Lebanese singer-songwriter Mika, 40, to chat about their eagerly-awaited encore...

The first outing was such a hit - how does it feel to be back filming the most uplifting programme on TV?

MIKA Incredible! We were amazed by the reaction to Series 1, which was a beautiful little project that was shot as more of a documentary. The whole thing has been such an astounding, tender surprise.

LANG LANG I knew it was going to be different from other talent shows out there, but I didn’t expect it to be such a success!