Jackson Junior wows Britain's Got Talent judges, but at four is he being exploited?

By Sara Nathan

Mini-pop: Kayim-Ali Jaffer dressed at his idol Michael Jackson, has impressed judges on Britain's Got Talent
However, his inclusion has triggered a fresh row over the exploitation of children in television.


He's a little prince among King of Pop impersonators.

At just four-years-old, Kayim-Ali Jaffer has found himself in the spotlight after wowing Britain's Got Talent judges with a self-taught Michael Jackson dance routine.

The youngster is being described as a 'shoo-in' for the semi-finals of the latest series, having been praised at audition as a 'little genius'.

Eyebrows were also raised by cynics over the fact BGT had discovered its youngest ever contestant, just in time for a fresh series in May.

The reality show was last year severely criticised for its treatment of ten-year-old Hollie Steel, who broke down in tears in front of millions of viewers.


Self-taught: Kayim-Ali picked up the dance moves from Jackson's music videos

Kayim-Ali, clad in Jackson's trademark Fedora and a miniature white suit, flaunted his dance moves to the star's 1988 hit Smooth Criminal at the audition in front of Simon Cowell and his fellow judges.

Amanda Holden cooed: 'I just want to give you a cuddle.'

The routine left the crowd at the Hammersmith Apollo standing on their feet in applause.

A member of the audience said: 'Everyone was screaming, but Kayim-Ali was a bit confused and he ran off the stage before the judges had put him through and he had to be pushed back on stage.

'He is a shoo-in to reach the live semifinals, he's extremely talented.'

Children's charities, however, are concerned about the pressure the youngster could be put under.

Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, said: 'He may be talented but you have to remember that this little boy has only been talking for a few years - now he is performing in front of a huge audience and will be seen by millions.

'Unless he wins he is also going to have to deal with rejection. I am not sure it is fair to have someone so young compete like that.

'It seems that the age at which people are appearing on these programmes is getting younger. What next? Two-year-olds on stage and then being voted on or off Britain's Got Talent?'


Impressed: Kayim-Ali performed a routine to Smooth Criminal in front of judges Simon Cowell, left, and Amanda Holden, right, as well as Piers Morgan


Big following: Fans of Britain's Got Talent gather outside the Hammersmith Apollo to try and get a glimpse of the judges


Miss Knights said it would be better to develop a separate children's competition with a lower age limit so the youngest children are better protected.

Kayim-Ali, from Peterborough, appeared at the London audition on Tuesday.

His parents said they were amazed at their talented boy - who stunned them after picking up the dance moves from watching Jackson's music videos.


He was entered into the show by his older sister and brother, who are both dance students.

His father Shan said: 'Everything is completely self-taught, he has had no training and I haven't got any rhythm whatsoever. Me and my wife didn't even know he could dance like that.

'It turned out he had been watching a Michael Jackson DVD over and over again and practising whenever he was on his own.'

His mother Emma added: 'He is unbelievably confident - he has already told us he wants to dance in front of the Queen.'

After last year's series, the Government announced a public consultation into proposals for new safeguards to protect young performers.

The review by the Department for Children, Schools and Families is not related to any particular programme, ministers insisted at the time.

The youngest-ever contestant before Kayim-Ali was Connie Talbot, six, who sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow and came runner-up to Paul Potts in 2007.





source: dailymail