Now let’s hear it for the railway piano maestros

AS a city with a background for showcasing piano maestros, Leeds is an ideal location for one of Channel 4’s latest programmes.

The city station will feature in a new show hosted by Claudia Winkleman searching for Britain’s most talented undiscovered pianists.

The presenter will be joined by Chinese pianist Lang Lang and pop star Mika for the five-part series, The Piano.

Pianists will be invited to play for commuters on public pianos in London St Pancras, Leeds, Glasgow and Birmingham stations and share their stories with the public.

They will be unaware that chart-topper Mika and Lang Lang, one of the world’s most famous solo pianists, will be secretly assessing their performances.

The final of The Piano will bring together four pianists, one from each station, at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where they will deliver solo performances in front of an audience.