A talented Sutton Coldfield schoolboy has become a viral internet sensation after a clip of him playing the piano at a major Birmingham transport hub has been watched hundreds-of-thousands of times.

Alfie Bennett, aged just 12, hit just the right notes when he gave an impromptu performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody on Birmingham New Street Station’s Yamaha baby grand piano on Saturday, August 31.

Alfie suffers from autism, and to give him a boost his mum Kayley decided to share a video of his Freddie Mercury-esque keyboard skills, and could not believe the reaction.

Sutton schoolboy Alfie Bennett wowed the crowds at Birmingham New Street Station - and on Twitter - with his performance of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody
Sutton schoolboy Alfie Bennett wowed the crowds at Birmingham New Street Station - and on Twitter - with his performance of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody

The Twitter video has been watched more than 350,000 times, with the post also receiving 11,000 likes and 3,600 retweets.

The John Willmott School student has been amazed at the response and even went back last weekend for an encore! The viral social media fame has achieved just what mum Kayley wanted for Alfie.

Mum Kayley said she was ‘really shocked’ by the reaction. “This week’s felt so weird.

“The reaction on Twitter has really boosted his confidence. He doesn’t have any. When people say ‘you’re really good’, he doesn’t believe it. He still kind of doesn’t believe it!

“Virgin Trains have sent him tickets to watch We Will Rock You at the Hippodrome in Birmingham. I never ever thought it would get this reaction. I thought it might get a couple of shares.

“I wanted to do it to show him it’s not just us that thinks he’s fantastic!”

But the impromptu performance – was not at all planned. Kayley explained: “That Saturday we had tickets to go to London to watch the School of Rock musical.

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“There’s a piano permanently at Birmingham New Street and Alfie played it when we were on our way to London.

“A lady came over. She must have been a music teacher and she said how good he was with his expression. She had videoed him.

“Because we are on Twitter, I said to Alfie, I wonder if she has put it on and she had uploaded it. When I searched Birmingham New Street, it came up straight away.

“Alfie said ‘shall we do one for the way back and out it on your Twitter?’

“So that night when we were on our way back to Erdington station, I filmed Alfie playing Bohemian Rhapsody and tagged in the National Autisitic Society, Virgin Trains and Birmingham New Street.

“More or less instantly I think New Street shared it first. Virgin Trains commented and said ti was the best Tweet all day.

“But once Virgin Trains retweeted it – that’s when it went. On Saturday night it had 1,000 views. I had a comment from Paddy McGuinness’s wife [Christine Martin] – they have twins with autism – and she said it was amazing.

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“Kacey Ainsworth who was in EastEnders commented. And Birmingham Transport Police asked Alfie to come back last Sunday and play again and they would give him a guided tour!

“The fact it happened really quickly. My phone was non-stop. Lots and lots of comments. I thought this was like a big deal now.”

The 32-year-old mum-of three said: “With some autistic children they have intense obsessions. Alfie’s one is guitars.

“But he also likes the piano. He started the piano when he was nine and the guitar when he was 10. At the moment it’s the piano.

“Where Alfie struggles a lot socially and with communications and feelings he goes completely in to his own world.

“Watch him in the video and he does look at me for reassurance but he’s drifted off in to his own world. He usually struggles when there are lots of people around.

“It’s difficult to find out how he’s feeling. When he has music, he uses his piano to help him. Even when he’s upset he will play his piano.”

Following the Twitter fame the family were approached by Midlands Today, BBC WM and ITV. Alfie did an impromptu guitar song in one filming session – and he is as good with the string instrument as he is on the piano!

And Alfie went back to New Street Station for a reprisal last Sunday (September 8). He was given a tour of the station, announced a train departure and went in a British Transport Police van ‘cage’ as well as being handcuffed – for fun!

He played Queen’s Somebody To Love – which he had only learnt four days before. And then, of course, was asked to play Bohemian Rhapsody once more.

Alfie told the BirminghamLive: “It went really well. It was fun, exciting and very interesting as well.

“My favourite bands are Queen, The Beatles, Metallica and Motorhead. I also like classical music.

“I think it’s a really good thing. I like spreading the message out there – autism can’t stop you from doing anything.

“I am at a loss for words. I don’t know what to say. It’s just amazing – all these people watched me. It’s just inspired me more and I enjoy playing.”

Alfie’s mum, Kayley added: “It’s just gone completely crazy in just a week. It’s been so lovely. He’s been really smiling, all the positive comments. It’s what I wanted him to see. How amazing he is.”

Anyone looking to watch more of Alfie’s guitar and piano playing can go to his YouTube channel Alfie Bennett’s Music and subscribe!