Encore for Piano

The Piano is returning for a second run on Channel 4 but mystery surrounds how they will keep up the show’s surprise element.

In the first series, judges Mika and Lang Lang secretly watched players performing in train stations, before picking a line-up of the best musicians for a concert.

But host Claudia Winkleman, inset, was adamant it would be a one-off. Asked in February if it could continue beyond a single series, she said: “It can’t. The minute you put a piano anywhere, somebody will go, ‘Oi, where’s Mika?’ Things are allowed to happen once and just be a lovely piece of telly, a lovely one-off.” But that was before the show was C4’s best-rating new format since 2017. So another series has been ordered and C4 admit to us they are unsure how the format will work so players don’t suspect they’re being watched in public spaces. For now, creator Richard McKerrow, of Love Productions, says: “We’re extremely excited to be embarking on further series with the opportunity to unearth a whole new range of unknown amateur pianists.” Watch this space...