They went on to sell out shows around the world and even performed at the Royal Variety show
News
Bev Lyons, Christopher Megrath Life reporter and Kyle O'Sullivan
11:23, 30 Apr 2022Updated 11:23, 30 Apr 2022
One of Britain's Got Talent's earliest contestants, the father-son team that was Stavros Flatley stole the hearts of millions.
Fad Demi Demetriou, then 40, was joined by his 12-year-old doppelganger son Lagi who stormed the stage with a larger than life dance routine. Hitting the BGT stage topless, they went down in talent show history as one of the most high-energy and likeable contestants the show has ever seen.
Now more than a decade after their first appearance, a lot has shifted both career-wise and in family life. The Daily Record reported Demi, who was director of an electrical business and Greek takeaway food owner, was keen to keep his day job. He said: "I can still head the business and do a few bits of dancing.
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"One of the hardest things I’ve done is sell the restaurant, but I did it because I wanted to spend more time with my family. Regardless of what everyone says, the food was terrible, but we were still booked out."
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Soon after however Demi's electrical firm, Lagi Contractors Ltd went into administration and sub-contractors said they owed them £100,000. Demi is said to have personally lost £180,000 when it happened with the business in debt by more than half a million.
Father and son participated in 2017 show Sugar Free Farm, going on a sugar free diet. An MRI scan showed Demi's belly fat meant he risked suffering a heart attack - and he got emotional on the show in front of his son.
He said: "The doctor said it was the worst place to carry fat because it could lead to all sorts of health problems, like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and high blood pressure. I was putting my life at risk but eating less would cut my chances. The MRI results were a big shock as I’d never had any health issues in the past, so it was a real wake-up call."
That same year the father and son duo went as Kenzii & Aaron's date for ITV2's 'Dress To Impress' and went on Celebrity Coach Trip in 2011. Ten years on from BGT the duo returned to the show to perform a cameo in 4MGs semi finals appearance in 2019 then returned for Britain's Got Talent: The Champions the same year.
Simon Cowell gave them the golden buzzer and Stavros Flatley said they'd split up after the final, Lagi said: "We’ve done this for 10 years for a joke. We’ve done so many amazing things but what is there left to do? We’ve done the Royal Variety, we’ve played in China, Monaco - everywhere. When we got to The Champions, I thought this was the right time to leave. But Simon Cowell told me not to quit forever. So I will return for some shows."
When Demi said the duo made more than £2 million from their performances, he later admitted it was "a joke which got out of hand". Lagi opened a barber shop in Cyprus, and Demi recruited 17-year-old nephew Samson in his place. Demi said: "He has a six-pack - I’ve given up getting one of those."
Stavros Flatley came in second behind Twist and Pulse for the champions shows returned for Britain's Got Talent Christmas Spectacular in 2020. Demi now has a water sports shop in Cyprus alongside Lagi's barber shop which boasts a Stavros Flatley Museum in the toilet.
Lagi got engaged to Annika his girl, on New Year's Eve in 2020 and posted a pic of them on Insta saying: "I didn't get a trim and oh yeahhh guess what." The couple also said they were expecting their first child in 2021 with Baby Demetriou born in April. Lagi said that they called their daughter Xenia.
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