BGT GOLD BUZZER FOR KYLE
DAVID Walliams became the final Britain’s Got Talent judge to press the Golden Buzzer on Saturday – but not for green-bearded 63-year-old the Bard of Ely!
The judge was left on the spot by former contestant Kyle Tomlinson, whom he had previously told to get singing lessons.
After doing just that, the schoolboy from Sheffield returned yesterday and belted out a flawless rendition of emotional track Hallelujah, earning a standing ovation from all four judges.
He broke down in tears after he finished and Walliams slammed his hand down on the giant button, sending Tomlinson straight to the competition’s semi-final.
“I thought it was really good,” he cried, as he ran on stage to give the singer a hearty hug. “I’m really glad you came back and proved me wrong.”
Equally impressed, Walliams’ cojudge Simon Cowell commented: “This just shows you that when somebody grinds you down and says you are not good enough, you come back, and you look them in the eye, and you go ‘I am good enough.’
“You gave every single ounce you could possibly give to that performance.”
He now joins the likes of Llanelli girls’ choir Angelicus Celtis, who wowed judges last week with their emotional version of Nessun Dorma, in the competition’s next series.
Unfortunately one eccentric Cardiff musician, Steve Andrews, failed to get the same reaction.
The Bard of Ely – as he called himself – got four unceremonious NO votes from all four of the panel for his rendition of the Ben E King classic Stand By Me, during which he invited members of the audience to do just that.
“Let’s keep it row by row, because we don’t want things to get too mad,” he added, as, one by one, the crowd started to file past Cowell and the gang, leaving the pop svengali looking less than impressed.
“Let’s just sing the song, shall we?” said the miffed music mogul, before speedily pressing his red buzzer after Steve had only sung a few bars.
The three other judges all quickly voted the same way and Steve was soon back on the train home to South Wales – albeit satisfied he’d made an impression, even if only as a result of his choice of hair dye and disregard for the theatre’s seating arrangements.
Other acts who impressed yesterday included Maltese singer and 2015 Junior Eurovision winner Destiny Chukunyere.
The 14-year-old won four Yes votes after overwhelming the room with a soulful performance of Aretha Franklin’s Think.
Cowell said: “I have been waiting for someone to come out who we think could be a star, and guess who it is? You.”
He also commended 14-year-old Leah Barniville’s stunning version of the operatic classic Caruso, but the Irish schoolgirl’s biggest compliment came from her brother, who wept in the audience as he watched his big sister sing.
At the other end of the age spectrum, The Pensionaires – Malcolm, 75, and Henry, 84, also earned glowing praise.
Cowell joked: “I want to hear you sing Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble,” adding, “You are the kind of act that you feel good after seeing.”