Mickey Callisto, the Sunderland singer from Town End Farm, has become one of Britain’s Got Talent’s most talked-about performers thanks to his soaring renditions of Queen classics.
While the TV audience saw his powerful version of “Who Wants To Live Forever” and the judges’ glowing praise, there’s much more to his story than BGT revealed.
From a surprise name change to a viral moment in Paris, here are the facts the show didn’t tell you about the man many call a “clone of Freddie Mercury.”
FACTS BGT DIDN’T TELL YOU
1. His real name isn’t Mickey
Mickey Callisto was actually born Michael Spence. He created the name “Callisto” when he was just 14, inspired by one of Jupiter’s moons. “My other ambition in life was to be an astronaut because I love space,” he explained. “I came up with the name Callisto and it just stuck. I always felt more like a Mickey Callisto.”
2. He fell in love with singing at seven
His passion for music began when the Durham Cathedral choristers performed at his school. “It really made me want to sing, so I taught myself how to sing opera,” Mickey recalled. Even though he couldn’t afford chorister school, his teacher steered him toward Freddie Mercury for inspiration — sparking a lifelong admiration for the Queen frontman.
3. His BGT debut wowed the judges
On Britain’s Got Talent, Mickey impressed with Who Wants To Live Forever, earning four “yes” votes. Judge Alesha Dixon raved, “Is this Mickey? Is this Freddie? Whatever it was, it’s sensational. Your voice is absolutely stunning.” Simon Cowell added, “You’ve got to be remembered and talked about the following day, and people are going to like you, Mickey. You’ve got a great personality as well.”
4. He’s already performing beyond BGT
Far from being just a TV contestant, Mickey has built his career as both a solo act and a Freddie Mercury impersonator. He tours regularly and will headline Monument Festival in Sunderland. His new club night, Homospace, named after one of his singles, launches at Independent in Holmeside. The monthly event is described as an inclusive LGBTQIA+ celebration, blending music, freedom, and self-expression.
5. TikTok opened the BGT door
Mickey didn’t apply to BGT himself — producers actually spotted him on TikTok and invited him to audition. His growing online presence has since made him one of the most exciting rising performers to watch.
MICKEY GOES VIRAL IN PARIS
Just weeks after his BGT debut, Mickey stunned audiences again — this time far from the TV stage. On September 8, he joined pianist Julien Cohen and 30 other musicians for a massive flash mob of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Paris.
Videos of the performance, staged at a busy Parisian intersection, quickly spread online, gaining millions of views within days. Cohen described it as “the most INSANE Bohemian Rhapsody flashmob you will ever see,” while Mickey admitted, “Never in a million years would I have thought I would be coming in on a horse and carriage in Paris singing Bohemian Rhapsody.”
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The flash mob wasn’t just for fun — it was also a tribute to celebrate 50 years of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, first released in October 1975. With singers belting harmonies from surrounding windows and musicians filling the streets, fans described the moment as unforgettable.
One Reddit user wrote, “Bohemian Rhapsody is already powerful, but with 30 voices echoing through Paris it probably felt like a once-in-a-lifetime concert.” Another added, “This gave me chills, the harmonies in the middle part are unreal.”
In just 20 hours, Part 1 of the video had racked up over 70 million views, with Part 2 quickly following suit. Together, they turned Mickey Callisto from a promising BGT act into a global viral star, proving he’s much more than just a Freddie lookalike.