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Britains Got Talent - a belly dancer and the best act of the series so far |
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Written by Telly Addict
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Friday, 02 May 2008 |
Britain's Got Talent with judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan and presented by Ant & Dec returns on Saturday 3rd May at 8.05pm on ITV1
It is week four of the current series of Britain's Got Talent and this week the Judges are in London, Cardiff and Manchester as they continue their search to find this year's brightest act who will go on to appear in front of the Prince of Wales at this year's Royal Variety Performance and win £100,000 in prize money.
Barking Mad
First up to wow the Judges in London with her truly unique talent is Edel Weiss Warby, a 52 year old ex cleaner from London. Equipped with her own microphone headset, she explains to the Judges that they will be "incredibly surprised with my act, I am doggy singing", "sorry" ask the Judges, "I am singing like a dog, it's right up your street Simon!". Singing, well howling, along to the Phantom of the Opera the Judges find it hard to contain their laughter, and it is not long before the three buzzers strike in quick succession. Will Edel get three yes's or is she barking up the wrong tree?
Good ball skill
Next on stage and hoping to hit the big time with his football skills is 20 year old Jeremy Lynch. Jeremy's big dream is to become a professional footballer, and Jeremy's dream almost came true when at 15 he was taken on by Arsenal, but unfortunately it didn't work out and Arsenal let him go. Jeremy thought his dreams had ended there but his passion for the game has never faltered and he is hoping to give it one more shot with his sights set on the ultimate stage, the Royal Variety Performance. On stage, armed with his football Amanda asks, "How can you make this entertaining and not just sport?", "You just watch me!" says Jeremy. Displaying his amazing ball control, and pretty nifty dancing skills, Jeremy has the Hackney audience on their feet but will the Judges agree with the crowd that sport can be entertaining?
Simon Cowell offers some serious advice to a pair of eight year olds
Charlie and Krista are both 8 and from Burnley in Lancashire. Together they are the Cheeky Monkeys. Dressed to impress in their sequined outfits the two win over the Judges and the audience with their very energetic disco dance routine. But Simon has some harsh words and advice for the pair, "I think you look terrific, great costumes, but I thought you were better than the choreography. To become successful in this business you two are going to have to become a pair of pre-madonnas and probably fire your choreographer". Will the choreography and their age stand against them or will they get the two yes's they need to get through?
Wiggle it just a little bit
It has been a great day in Manchester for dance acts, so will Sophie, 19, be able to continue the trend. Sophie is a belly dancer and clearly has curves in all the right places as she walks on stage to admiring glances from Simon and Dec. Amanda picks up on Simon's interest and asks, "Is it a yes or no Simon", before Sophie has even performed. Shimmying her way across the stage Dec and Simon are more than transfixed on Sophie's curves, with Dec giving her a huge round of applause when she finishes. Piers too is impressed, "the thing about belly dancers is the ones I have seen most don't have the right belly for it so nothing wobbles in the right way, but your wiggle is very good, you have a great belly for belly dancing, I thought it was bloody marvellous". As well as brightening up Simon and Dec's day has Sophie just wiggled her way through to the next round?
Young at Heart
As the auditions move to Cardiff the first on stage is Leonard Henry Bennett, a retired 72 year old underground worker and Grandad of 9 with his Strongman act.
Having spent over 57 years perfecting his talent Leonard hopes he has put in enough work to take him to the Royal Variety. Leonard says "Winning Britain's Got Talent would be what I've worked for all my life, it would make everything worthwhile".
Leonard announces to the audience that he will be 73 years old in two days time which gets a huge round of applause.
Amanda asks Leonard where he practises and he tells her in his back garden, "At my age you've got to keep it up" smiles Leonard. Leonard then starts his Strongman routine to Elton John's I'm Still Standing, using just two fingers, and a rather bizarre weight attached to his belt, Leonard does a succession of chin-ups showing off his incredible strength despite his age.
Oldies but goodies
It's not just Leonard in Cardiff who proves to the Judges that you are never too old to seek royal approval as a whole succession of OAPs show off their talents for the Judges, including: 86 year old Chelsea Pensioner Jack Woodward who tries his jokes; 85 year old belly dancing Simone Lloyd Davies and 82 year old Teddy Prescott who brings a rare smile to Simon&39;s face with his banjo skills.
Opera to the Masses
Next on are Harvey French, 71 and his singing partner Kay Lacey, 55, both from Bristol, who have come to audition with Kay singing Rasaga Song to the Moon with Harvey on keyboard.
Kay starts to sing and Harvey plays his keyboard, but the audience are not impressed with chants of off off off and boos echoing around the theatre. As Simon delivers a rather brutal verdict the audience then turn on Simon booing him for his criticism, "You have the nerve to boo me" asks a puzzled Simon, "talk about pot, kettle, black". But will the audiences change in mood sway the Judges to deliver a yes verdict to Harvey and Kay or is this the end of their West End dream?
Hula Hooping with a twist
The action switches back to Manchester and Melissa Lucas, 9, from Leigh is next on stage with her act playing the harmonica whilst hula hooping! Ant & Dec enjoy her short performance, but Simon thinks Melissa should "concentrate on one thing at a time, your hoop was making your harmonica out of tune" he giggles, not quite believing what he is having to critique.
Genuine star potential
In a definite case of saving the best until last, Dean Wilson, 18, from Middlesbrough is going to be performing an extract from Miss Saigon for the Judges today. Dean lives with his single Mum Sharon and he has a real passion for musical theatre.
Walking out on stage to lots of wolf whistles from the girls in the audience, Dean starts his performance, singing and acting Why God Why? from Miss Saigon, but just as Dean is getting into his stride Simon stops his performance because, "I hate that song". Simon asks Dean if he has an alternative song prepared, but Dean has not bought any other tracks with him, and with the audience chanting "sing it sing it", Simon backs down and lets Dean start again. Dean gives a hugely passionate performance, even leaping off the stage at one point and singing right in front of the Judges desk, much to Amanda's delight.
As Dean gets to the end of his performance the whole theatre, including Piers and Amanda give Dean a standing ovation. Piers declares that, "that was a tour de force performance by you" and Amanda croons that "I could see the passion and the hunger in you", but will Simon, who is obviously not a fan of Miss Saigon see the star potential in Dean?
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