Britain’s Got Talent finalist Sonny Green has revealed the clever way he managed to get his young sons into the Hammersmith Apollo to watch his emotional semi-final performance.

The spoken word poet, who lives in Southend-on-Sea, explained that children under the age of seven were not allowed in the audience during the live shows. Wanting his sons to experience the special moment, Green found a loophole by making them part of the performance itself.

“The only way I could actually get them in to watch me was to include them as part of my performance,” he told BBC Essex presenter Sonia Watson.

“Then the boys could actually watch their dad perform at the Hammersmith Apollo, which was the biggest indoor event I’ve ever done.”

His sons joined him on stage at the end of the powerful poem, which was dedicated to them, just moments before judge Simon Cowell pressed his Golden Buzzer and sent him straight through to the Britain’s Got Talent final.

The emotional moment left both Amanda Holden and guest judge KSI in tears as the boys ran onto the stage to hug their father after the performance.

Green’s appearance on the ITV talent show marks a remarkable turnaround for the performer, who has openly spoken about his past struggles with addiction, crime, and personal loss.

Speaking previously to the Mirror, Sonny shared how the death of his father Martin became the turning point that pushed him to completely change his life.

“I was 23 when he passed away and that was a wake-up call for me to change my life,” he explained.

Before finding fame on BGT, Green had battled alcohol and drug addiction for years. He revealed he has now been sober for seven years after deciding to turn his life around before the birth of his first son in 2018.

“Becoming a father changed my life,” he said.

Growing up in Southend-on-Sea, Sonny regularly found himself in trouble with police as a teenager and was previously arrested for theft and street robbery. Despite later landing a music contract, touring with Pete Doherty, supporting Fatboy Slim, and becoming the first rapper to perform at the House of Commons at age 19, his private life continued to spiral because of addiction.

At one stage, he faced court proceedings involving cannabis and knife charges, though he was found not guilty on the knife allegation. He also recalled being arrested on the set of BBC drama River City during a difficult period in his life.

Now married to wife Ella and raising sons Levi and Raphael, Green says he hopes his story can inspire others who may be struggling.

“I don’t pretend to be perfect,” he said. “But I do feel like I have grown up so much now.”

Since rebuilding his life, Green has worked as a youth worker and become involved in campaigns supporting young people and tackling knife crime. Following the murder of teenager Fabian Kacica in Southend, he helped lead a peace march calling for action against violence.

The poem that first captured national attention on Britain’s Got Talent, titled What England Means to Me, focused on diversity, community, and inclusion. The piece had previously been featured during a televised New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

Its lyrics celebrated multicultural Britain, including lines about “Caribbean barbers with a sharpish trim” and neighbours from different faiths celebrating each other’s holidays together.

Green, who now works as a market trader while continuing to write poetry and music, says he hopes to shine a light on issues including addiction, division, and child poverty through his performances.

“The aim is to speak for the nation and represent an art form that this island is famous for,” he said.

He also hopes his success on the show proves poetry can still connect with modern audiences.

“It doesn’t always have to sound like Shakespeare,” he added. “It can sound like Sonny Green.”

Sonny Green will compete in the Britain’s Got Talent live final airing Saturday at 7 p.m. on ITV1.