The ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judges could barely contain their excitement in Saturday’s show (14 May), after being bowled over by mother and daughter singing duo, Ana and Fia.
Despite admitting to only having sung together for “less than a year”, they were undeniably the stand-out act of the episode, taking on one of the biggest diva duets there is, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand ‘Tell Him’.
Things got off to an emotional start, when Fia told the crowds that she left her home country of Indonesia with her children for a “fresh start”, after what she described as a “bad year”.
She told the audience: “I had a really bad, difficult marriage. Recently, I took the kids… and left for good. And now we are here! It’s our fresh start. I’m hoping for a better future for us.”
After getting the whole auditorium - including all four judges - on their feet with their emotional performance, a teary Amanda Holden told the pair: “It’s just wonderful to see you up there.
“And for you to be able to take strength and courage from each other. I just want the best for you, there’s a place for you in this competition.”
David Walliams described the performance as “incredibly emotional from the first note”, while Alesha Dixon: “Music is the best therapy, and I can see that through music you guys are starting this new chapter together. We were all with you the whole way emotionally, that was incredible.”
Simon Cowell agreed, adding: “This is the best thing you could possibly do under the circumstances to show that you two are completely strong, united. Amazing performance, and the audience here absolutely loved it.”
The pair sailed through to the next round of the competition, getting a ‘yes’ with all four judges, who have all now given out their Golden Buzzers, each fast-tracking one act through to the live semi-finals.
Last week, Simon Cowell gave the unlikely Golden Buzzer to a load of dancing ‘Star Wars’ Stormtroopers, with singing teens Jasmine Elcock and Beau McDermott joining them, alongside choir 100 Voices Of Gospel and duo Ian & Anne.
Simon Cowell brushed off the controversy, though, insisting: “I see it as a testament to how we are as a country. We want everyone to do well, no matter where they are from. It’s a positive not a negative.”
However, by the time she made it through to the live finals, producers were accused of exploiting a vulnerable woman, with reports repeatedly suggesting she was struggling to cope with the media attention surrounding her.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Simon Cowell has later said: “Looking back on it all, it has become clear to me that we didn't handle the situation with Susan as well as we could have. Yet to be honest, when I analyse exactly what happened, I don't know that I could have done it any differently.”
Although Simon Cowell later allowed her to perform again at the end of the show, it was a memorably uncomfortable moment for BGT viewers, who questioned whether children should be allowed to take part in such a high-pressure competition.
However, David was met with a backlash from viewers when he made the unpopular decision to put through Christian Spridon, after his *ahem* unique take on Tom Jones’s Sex Bomb.
Claiming she was“relieved” to have been let go early, she added: “[Simon] was hours late. We would have to start at 9am and he wouldn't get there until 1pm. It was disrespectful to me, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan. Throughout my career, if I have a call time of 9am, I'll be there at 8.30am ready to go. Simon didn't work like that, it was his party and he did it his way.
“It wasn't what I wanted to do anyway, I wanted to act. So when it didn't work out I wasn't bothered, it meant I could go back to doing what I really wanted to do."
J-Lo later insisted: “I don’t think I’m any racier than any other female pop artist. OK, I’ll wear a sexy outfit, but I think it’s more because my body shape’s a little different to other body shapes, so that’s not very fair.”
Eventually, the company issued a statement, insisting: “There has been speculation on the internet that Britain's Got Talent finalist Ronan Parke was known to and worked with Syco/Sony Music before entering the show. There is no truth in this story whatsoever. Ronan first came to Syco/Sony's attention when he entered this year's competition.”
Simon also addressed the controversy live on air, claiming: “There has been an allegation made in the papers - not in the papers actually, on the Internet - that Ronan Parke had a previous recording contract with me, that I’d bet him beforehand, both of which are complete and utter lies. He entered the show of his own accord, he’s 12 years old, this is a deliberate smear campaign.”
