The group is from the same creator as Boogie Storm
Munkeemania on Britain’s Got Talent(Image: Tom Dymond)
Variety act “Munkeemania” appeared on Britain’s Got Talent Unseen Bits tonight- but what do we know about the unique group? Formed in Liverpool by firefighter Lee Seddon, fans may not recognise the gorilla dancers themselves but their crazy idea and dancing style might remind them of another dance act we’ve seen on the show before.
Dancing Stormtroopers “Boogie Storm” gained fame as Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer act on series 10 of Britain’s Got Talent 10 years ago. The group will go down in history as one of the most memorable dance acts on the show, performing full-out routines dressed as Stormtroopers.
They impressed the judges, as well as audiences at home, and finished in third place.
Following their success, Lee, who is a firefighter from West Derby, travelled the world with Boogie Storm. But he isn’t slowing down, and has brought his distinctive ideas onto the BGT stage once again with new act “Munkeemania”.
Golden buzzer act Boogie Storm (Image: SYCO/THAMES TV/PA Wire)
“Munkeemania” were shown during the Unseen Bits on Britain’s Got Talent this weekend, which is available to watch on ITVX. The variety act took the judges by surprise when they went on to the stage dressed as apes.
Speaking to the ECHO explaining the unusual new act, Lee said: “It’s a variety act of dancing apes. But it’s not just dancing, we’ve got a gorilla playing the drums, some tumbling acrobats, magic tricks and everything.”
He added: “It’s a fun, high-energetic, versatile routine with crazy moments. It’s something new that I wanted to try. The idea has been there for years but it was just about making sure we could get the costumes made to a high standard and look realistic.”
A gorilla playing the drums on BGT(Image: Tom Dymond)
He said: “We’ve been dancing together for a few years, so the group know each other inside out and they’ve done a few different dancing things with me that’s I’ve created. This [Munkeemania] is a new concept that was difficult for them to get used to at first, especially with the heat of the costumes and the masks.”
Lee explained the dancers were relatively calm before going on the stage, having been on Britain’s Got Talent before. Some of the dancers in Munkeemania also danced as part of Boogie Storm 10 years ago.
He said: “The guys were relaxed, they were great. They all knew what they had to do and the crew were brilliant, they took one of the guys out in the gorilla costume to walk around Blackpool which was funny.”
Lee, who manages the group on the side of being a firefighter, said it felt like the “right time” to go back to Britain’s Got Talent with a new idea.
He told the ECHO: “I just felt it was the right time to do something new, more of a variety not just a dance performance.”
He hopes to represent Liverpool on a national scale, as he said: “There’s so much creativity in the city and it’s important to recognise the talent that comes out of Liverpool and Britain’s Got Talent is such an amazing way to get into the industry.”
Stream Britain’s Got Talent: Unseen straight after Britain’s Got Talent, Saturday on ITVX