GRUFF’S ON SONG
Golden buzzer reward for BGT sensation
A RUGBY player from Anglesey who reduced the audience to tears on Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent won the fifth and final coveted golden buzzer.
Gruffydd Wyn Roberts, 22, from Amlwch, who received a standing ovation from all four judges and the audience, got a direct pass to the semi-final.
Following in the footsteps of Paul Potts, who won the first ever show in 2007, Gruff, who plays for Benllech Rugby Club, blew the judges away with a sensational rendition of Nessun Dorma by Puccini.
Judge Amanda Holden, who pressed the golden buzzer, said: “I didn’t know I was going to do that.”
She added: “When you were 10 years old and Paul Potts auditioned on this show 12 years ago, he blew us away with that song.
“And oh my god, you just did the same. Congratulations.”
She ran on stage to give her golden act a hug, while Gruff’s brother and friends, who were in tears after his performance, were jumping up and down alongside an elated audience.
Presenter Ant McPartlin threw his arms in the air, while judge Alesha Dixon was almost reduced to tears and Gruff jumped off stage to hug his friends who came running over to congratulate him.
Dixon said “there was something special” about the Anglesey star.
“There’s something about you that I just wanted you to win,” she said.
“That was fantastic, and so well deserved. There’s something special about you.”
Judge David Walliams added: “This is one of those songs that if the right person is singing it, and someone you feel emotionally connected to, it lifts you up out of your seat, and we all felt like we were flying because it was so magical.”
But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Gruff, whose huge success came after he faced the wrath of Simon Cowell. Viewers initially saw the theatre assistant try to win the judges’ approval with a rendition of the Italian opera song Un Giorno Per Noi. But he was stopped halfway through his audition after Cowell signalled to stage hands to cut the music and asked Gruff to stop singing. Cowell, who said Gruff was “very nervous” and “cold and mechanical” added: “I sense there’s more in there. “I want to hear warmth and richness and I want you to just let go for a second.” Asking Gruff how he rates his singing out of 10, the singer replied, “a six at the moment.” Simon replied: “That’s what we just got, but I want an eight – and above.” Gruff, who is social secretary for Benllech RUFC, then managed to shake off his nerves and delivered a sensational audition in front of the astounded judges. Following the tear-jerking performance, Simon said: “Bloody hell, you made us work for that didn’t you? “We asked for an eight, we just hit a seven and then we got to the final part and guess what, you gave us a 10 – good for you. “That song is the ultimate underdog song. When you can nail that song in an environment like this when everything is going through your head, you deserve what you just got.” Fans at home were also amazed by the Welsh singer, and were elated to see him through to the semi-final. Racheal Johnson Roberts said: “Wow... absolutely out of this world. “Well deserved buzzer!! Beautiful voice.” And commenting on Gryffudd’s own Facebook page, Aimee Jones commented: “Wow you were amazing Gruff! Well done.” Lisa Morgans added: “Amazing voice and performance.” Writing in Welsh, Annwen Jones said: “Excellent and emotional performance, well done Gruff.” Britain’s Got Talent will air next Saturday on ITV at 8pm. The live shows are expected to get underway from Monday, May 28.