Armless pianist wins 'China's Got Talent'

A musician who lost both arms in a childhood accident and plays the piano with his toes has won 'China’s Got Talent'.

Liu Wei performed his version of James Blunt’s love song 'You’re Beautiful' to a packed audience at the Shanghai Stadium.

All three judges on the show praised the 23-year-old for his determination, urging him to keep on pursuing his dreams, and the Beijing native said he would try, quipping: “At least I have a pair of perfect legs.”

For winning the Chinese version of the show which helped to make Britain’s Susan Boyle a singing star, Liu will be invited to play as a guest performer with Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. He also has the chance of a performing contract.

Liu’s arms were amputated after he suffered an electrical shock while playing hide-and-seek when he was 10.

At the age of 18, he decided to pursue a career in music, using his feet to play the piano, much as he uses them to navigate on the computer, eat, dress and brush his teeth.

'China’s Got Talent', a weekly programme shown on local channel Dragon TV, has helped draw attention to the hopes and challenges of disabled and otherwise disadvantaged Chinese. It featured scores of acts, including a seven-year-old stand-up comedian, Zhang Fengxi, who came second.

The programme, which began in July, is part of Simon Cowell’s 'Got Talent' franchise, which now has versions broadcasting in more than 30 countries.