Superstar Interviews: Tim Prottey-Jones

Tim Prottey-Jones took a big risk by dropping everything to take a shot at getting the role of Jesus as he has a house, a wife and a cat to take care of back home in Birmingham. He also has a tremendously rewarding job as a charity worker and now, having been eliminated from the competition, he is finding himself very much in limbo.

How was the Superstar experience for you?

The experience was incredible; I mean so much of it we just couldn’t get across on the TV as the build up to the live shows was quite short. For us it had been about five months so it had been a massive thing where we got to meet with a heck of a lot of people, were learning a lot of material and genuinely building friendship groups and tight units of people who you then end up competing against in the final stages.

We’ve all, the final 11, been living together in the same house for two months with rehearsals every day and it was really hard work and, for me, it was a massive difference. Back in Birmingham I had a nine-to-five job, as a charity worker, and they were very generous in giving me the time to go and pursue this and, when we got to the live shows, it was just amazing but the reality is now that I don’t know whether I should be going back to work or holding on to see if there are any opportunities or offers coming my way. It’s a very strange time that I don’t think anyone can warn you about.

Did you feel in any way disadvantaged being up against so many professional singers and actors?

Do you know, I think what I had instead was simply a case of having nothing to lose which, I hope, went in my favour a little bit if anything. I was daunted at the beginning being with some of these people that I had paid good money to go and see perform in West End shows for instance. But being up against them, and actually progressing further than some of them, was such a strange feeling as well, almost like I didn’t deserve to be there.

Everyone on the show was very supportive of all of us that got through and, for that reason, I just wanted to get out there and do my best and prove, to myself as well, that I could do it. So I wouldn’t say that I was disadvantaged in any way; I just had less to lose than some.

As a non-actor did you pick up a lot from the various coaches?

Absolutely, and I was told on many occasions by both the acting and vocal coaches that the progression for me had been huge, in confidence primarily, but also just putting myself across in the best possible way. I am very proud of what I have achieved, I was able to be myself throughout the whole thing and I think there are roles and opportunities out there for me.

Tell me a bit about your work with the music charity, Sound It Out.

Sure, I’ve been there about 3 and a half years now and I work with children and young people helping to co-ordinate and facilitate activities for youths who might be at risk of offending or maybe come from disadvantaged backgrounds. It’s basically giving them something to get involved in that is positive activity and keeps them off the streets and out of trouble.
  

Perhaps now you can become something of a figurehead for the charity?

I might do, who knows. Just before I started this they were spending a lot of time looking for patrons and getting some more media coverage, so if I have helped to do that in some way then all the better for it, as it’s the least I can do for them with the support that they have given me over the past few months. It would be a fabulous benefit for me and for the organisation so I do hope it brings them something positive.

In the last live show in which you appeared, were you expecting the twist when they said that they wouldn’t decide who would be eliminated until the end of the show?

We were told about an hour before the show went live that Andrew had watched the dress rehearsal and that he wanted to see how much we had taken on board from all the advice that we had been given that day, from the coaches and from himself. So it was a very last minute twist but yes, we were aware about an hour before we went on.

It did cause a few wobbles backstage but, for me personally, I was happy because I really wanted to sing the song I had for that show and the fact that I got to sing Dream On was a real benchmark for me and a great way to go out, if I’m honest.

So now you’re a bit in limbo. 

Very much so, yes, it’s a very strange feeling that I am struggling to put into words. I’m back at home in Birmingham for a couple of days with my wife and I’ll be honest with you and say that I am pretty low. I have been very vocal about my support for the guys who are still in there and I’d love to be there too but this weekend has been really tough because all of me wants to still be there and in the competition.

But more than that I think what I want is to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Something to come at me that says I did the right thing by going for this competition and it will be all worthwhile because, when you are married and you have a house, it’s a massive risk when you’re deciding on a next step.