Mickey Callisto is proving unstoppable. The Sunderland-born singer, who first turned heads on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, has gone from online debate to global acclaim in just a matter of months.
The 28-year-old performer was initially caught up in controversy when some BGT viewers accused him of miming during his jaw-dropping audition of Who Wants to Live Forever.
While judges praised his “stunning” voice and Freddie Mercury-like mannerisms, a section of the audience claimed the performance looked too good to be live.
Rather than letting the criticism define him, Callisto has spent 2025 shutting down doubters in spectacular fashion. First came the Bohemian Rhapsody flashmob in Paris, where he belted Freddie’s parts in front of unsuspecting crowds.
Directed by musician Julien Cohen and joined by 30 performers—including fellow BGT breakout guitarist Olly Pearson—the spectacle has now been viewed over 500 million times across platforms, even catching the attention of Queen’s official account. “We absolutely love this,” the band commented.
And if that wasn’t enough, Callisto doubled down during a recent BBC appearance, stripping everything back with a raw a cappella take on Bohemian Rhapsody.
What started as a spur-of-the-moment decision on live television quickly became a trending moment online, with fans hailing it as proof that his voice is the real deal. One viewer wrote: “This guy sounds exactly like Freddie. What a wonderful team of outstanding, beautiful, talented musicians.”
It caps a whirlwind year for the Mackem singer. From befriending CMAT on tour to scoring his best-performing single yet with Supernova, Callisto is now stepping into his own spotlight. He has just announced a headline date at The Grand Social Ballroom in Dublin on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. Tickets, priced €19 including booking fee, go on sale Friday 19 September at 10am via Singular Artists.
For Callisto, the trajectory is clear: viral moments may have sparked the conversation, but his talent is what’s carrying it forward. As one fan put it after seeing his BBC performance: “Protect this guy at all costs. He’s a rockstar already.”