Hollie Steel

Yesterday, my family and I went to visit Hollie, Josh, Nina and Jason Steel at their home. Jason and Nina had kindly invited us over to see them as a thank you for me setting up this Hollie Steel fan site, which is lovely of them. It is great to feel appreciated!

We arrived mid afternoon and enjoyed an endless supply of hospitality -  the day went by so fast.  Nina played me a version of Hollie singing Nessun Dorma that she is currently working on in a studio, and it was absolutely amazing. It would blow your socks off, I promise! If you were judging her as an adult singing it would sound amazing, but as an 11 year old girl – totally unbelievable.

We didn’t just talk about Hollie singing though – we had a normal, fun time. My children, Sam and Tomson, are each a year older than Josh and Hollie, and they all got on well together, playing on the trampoline, making noises with the amplifier and generally doing what children do – with a few exceptions. For example, whilst I was playing a Nightwish track for the Jason and Nina (I think Hollie would be great singing some of the Nightwish songs that  Tarja Turunen used to sing such as Ever Dream or Wishmaster), we could hear Josh playing the piano. Wow! Such an accomplished pianist, as is dad Jason. Josh will be entering Britain’s Got Talent next year, so let’s hope he gets through next time.

Meanwhile, my son Tomson is certainly looking forward to being asked what he did during the Summer holidays: “Oh, I met Hollie Steel!”

He was so looking forward to meeting Hollie and didn’t really believe it would actually happen until we arrived on her doorstep.

I took some photos whilst we were there, the best of which are contained in this article. Feel free to use them in your tribute videos to Hollie if you would like to

My children Tomson and Sam, with Josh and Hollie

Tomson and Hollie. Tomson, understandably, is looking very pleased.

Josh looking cool

Hollie treated us all to a live performance

Hollie trying on her school blazer in readiness for her return to school

This is me (Mandy) with Hollie

Me, my husband Andy, Nina and Jason

Hollie Steel on BBC Radio

Download the Hollie and Nina Steel interview with Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5, that took place on August 15th, 2009, by clicking the above link.

In the interview, Hollie and Nina talk about their experiences in the Britain’s Got Talent competition and how Hollie balances performing with her school work. Hollie also talks about the lead up to her breaking down in the semi-final, and how she managed to recover to successfully obtain a coveted place in the final of the competition.

Thanks especially go to Robert Owen and Mick for finding the interview, to Jacke for decoding the interview and uploading it to Mediafire and of course to the BBC for publishing the interview online.

You can also download the interview here.

Hollie Steel has been singing in public again – this time at Burnley’s annual balloon festival, which took place on the weekend of 15th-16th August, 2009.

Although Hollie Steel was the star of the show on the final day, other acts that appeared at Towneley Park were a daredevil motorbike display courtesy of Broke FMX and a display from the Burnley Crusaders, a Burnley-based American football team.