Britain's Got Talent Star Sonny Green Reveals Inspiring Turnaround from Addiction
Britain's Got Talent act Sonny Green has delivered an exclusive interview with the Mirror, detailing his remarkable journey from the depths of addiction to a star turn on this Saturday's show. The performance marks a powerful capstone to a life transformed after years of struggle with drink and drugs.
A Tribute to His Father and a Wake-Up Call
During his emotional performance on Britain's Got Talent, Sonny Green brought the house down with a poem celebrating diversity, earning standing ovations from judges and audience members alike. As the crowd rose to their feet, he said "Love you, Dad" and drew a love heart on his chest—a gesture with profound personal meaning.
For Sonny, this was a tender tribute to his father Martin, whose death at age 48 from addiction inspired him to turn his life around. "I was 23 when he passed away and that was a wake-up call for me to change my life," Sonny revealed. "My son was born in 2018, so it all happened at once. Before he was born, I decided to change my life, stop drinking and taking drugs, and go on the straight and narrow. Becoming a father changed my life."
A Troubled Past and Outward Success
Growing up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, Sonny was regularly in trouble with police as a teenager, with arrests for street robberies and theft. Despite this turbulent start, he achieved notable success in his youth, landing a recording contract, being playlisted on Radio 1, and touring with Pete Doherty. At just 19, he became the first rapper to perform at the House of Commons and supported Fatboy Slim.
However, his private life continued to unravel due to addiction. He faced court on cannabis and knife charges—the latter of which he was found not guilty—and was arrested on set for drugs during a year-long acting stint on BBC's River City.
Transforming Pain into Poetry and Purpose
Now clean for seven years, Sonny has dedicated himself to helping others and channeling his experiences into his art. "I don't pretend to be perfect, but I do feel like I have grown up so much now," he says. "I am married, have children and I try to spread love, camaraderie and inclusivity. I hope that my hardest moments can help other people, to turn a negative into a positive in some way."
He has worked as a youth worker and led a peace march through Southend following the murder of teenager Fabian Kacica, calling for action against knife crime. Sonny describes his approach as "turning pain into poetry," using spoken word, music, and acting to connect with others who may feel alone in their struggles.
Challenges of Sobriety and Social Media Regrets
The path hasn't been entirely smooth since achieving sobriety. A campaign to become a Labour councillor was derailed when offensive tweets from his teenage years surfaced, including explicit messages directed at former Prime Minister Theresa May.
"When I was a teenager—about 15—I wasn't as thoughtful and social media was a fairly new thing," Sonny explains. "Like all kids I would do and write stupid things—things that I look back on now, and I'm ashamed about. Now I use my words for good and positivity."
Poetry as a Modern Art Form with Social Impact
On Britain's Got Talent, Sonny performs his spoken-word piece "What England Means to Me," which previously accompanied New Year's Eve fireworks on television. The poem celebrates diversity with lines like: "England to me is Caribbean barbers with a sharpish trim, it's Christian neighbours saying Happy Hanukkah mate, and Muslim mums saying Merry Christmas love."
Sonny, who now works as a market trader while his music career is on the back-burner, hopes to become the first poet to win Britain's Got Talent. "The aim is to speak for the nation and represent an art form that this island is famous for," he says. "We produced the best poets ever, but it doesn't always have to sound like Shakespeare. It can sound like Sonny Green. Poetry isn't stuck in bygone years; it's a modern art form."
A Message of Hope and Community Connection
Through his platform, Sonny aims to inspire young people, particularly those growing up with parents in addiction or in poverty—affecting approximately 4.5 million children in the UK. "They might be watching BGT and find out you can still do great things," he notes.
He advocates for personal responsibility and community engagement over online complaints. "Don't just go online and moan; go out and talk to people. Have a cup of tea. We can have different faiths or political opinions and still get along and have a laugh."
Looking ahead, Sonny promises more poetry and social commentary on the show. "I want to share some 'home truths' from my heart that people find hard to talk about," he concludes, determined to use his art for positive change.
