Grace Kelly and Lollipop hit maker Mika was left on the verge of tears after a woman appeared on Claudia Winkleman's brand new Channel 4 show, The Piano, which aired on Wednesday, February 15, to play her own composition that won "his heart".
The show is a far cry from the television star's hit programme, The Traitors, yet it seems to have hit all the right notes as Claudia Winkleman teams up with Mika and piano legend Lang Lang to find the UK's best and most passionate pianists - and where better to find them but at train stations across the country where travellers are serenaded by live music played on a house piano. The winner will be chosen by the musical experts and go on to play at the Royal Festival Hall."
These pianists - little to their knowledge - were being watched in secret by Mika and Lang Lang, who will decide who gets to play at the prestigious venue.
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On Wednesday's episode, we met Fiona Bennett, who was a gigging musician and singer until the age of 44, when she sold her band instruments and became a full-time mum for youngest son, Zachary, who had been diagnosed with autism.
She told Claudia: "I can't remember a time where I didn't play the piano. I took some time out from the piano when my son was diagnosed with autism. One night, Zachary said, 'mummy, can you play the piano while I go to sleep?' Instead of Olly Murs?! And he said: 'I like your music' - and he's brutally honest."
She continued: "And he wanted me to play the piano for him while he was going to sleep, so I thought I'm onto something here."
Mika commented from a secret hiding spot while watching Fiona speak to Claudia: "To put her autistic son to sleep..." Lang Lang added: "That's wonderful. I have a few students with autism. It really really helps, big time."
Fiona explained how she was still gigging when they got the diagnosis when Zachary was just four. "I sold all my band equipment and I was just mum. The years have flown by. He's twenty now, he is at university."
Lang Lang was amazed it was Fiona's own piece that she played. "It's so beautiful," he said. "This piece is really comforting and it's touching me and saying 'it's alright'."
Mika added after learning her story: "You would never know the world that was in that woman, he world that is in her head. There's something really beautiful about that. So..." becoming a little choked up, he continued: "The contrast between the person, the personality and just the motivation for playing and the actual piece..."
"I find there's love," Lang lang stated, "behind the melody. Totally love. It's beautiful."
Noticing Mika getting emotional, the 40-year-old world famous pianist noted: "She's got his heart. I can see that. You're getting very emotional for the first time."
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