Newbury pianist tells her emotional story on Channel 4's The Piano

If you tuned in to the first programme in Channel 4's new five-part reality show The Piano, you'll have spotted a familiar face among the contestants.

Newbury musician and N2 music reviewer Fiona Bennett performed her own composition The Landscape, on the concourse at St Pancras Station.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the premise of the series, which takes place at four train stations - the others being Birmingham New St, Leeds and Glasgow Central - is to give an opportunity for 'undiscovered' amateur pianists to showcase their talent, share their extraordinary stories and embody the spirit of the piano.

Unknown to them, they are being observed by two judges, acclaimed classical pianist Lang Lang and popstar Mika.

And Fiona, who lives in Woolton Hill, certainly impressed them. Her backstory is one of a jazz singer who had to put her career on hold some 20 years ago when her younger son was diagnosed with autism at the age of four. She sold her band equipment and concentrated her time on bringing up her children. She discovered how Zachary, now studying creative writing at university, would at a young age respond positively to music and asked her to play piano for him before he went to sleep.

Her moving composition The Landscape provoked an emotional response from the judges too, with Lang Lang exclaiming: "It's so beautiful.

"I find there's love behind the melody, totally love. It's beautiful."

One performer at the end of each episode has the opportunity to go through with a chance for the overall winner to play in the finale at the Royal Festival Hall.

Fiona said taking part was joyous and "Slightly surreal at times, but what a privilege".

No spoilers here, catch the episode on All 4, the series is aired on Channel 4 on Wednesday evenings at 9pm.