George Sampson has returned to Britain’s Got Talent 11 years on – despite being told by doctors he might never dance again.
The 26-year-old was just a teenager when he won the second series in 2008, with his routine to Mint Royale’s big-beat remix of Singin’ in the Rain.
Since then, George has become a successful actor, but had to have back surgery, which could have ended his career.
He said: “Around a year after winning BGT, I sustained a really bad back injury and doctors told me I might never be able to dance again.
“I love dance, that’s all I ever wanted to do. To be told bluntly, ‘no’, was devastating.”
But George, who did an arena tour before joining Emmerdale in 2016, said: “I’m stubborn. There was no chance I was going to stop dancing.
“It’s been a long road to recovery, but I’ve worked hard and I’m back.”
Of his performance on Saturday night’s BGT Champions show, judge David Walliams said: “You are the real-life Billy Elliot.
"At the end of the film you see that he’s turned into a beautiful swan – and that is what has happened to you. You are a superstar.”
And Amanda Holden added: “You are the comeback kid.”
Just last year the 26-year-old revealed he'd had a hair transplant which helped his career.
The Britain's Got Talent winner admitted a receding hairline stopped him getting roles.
The problem arose because the self-confessed "baby-faced" star usually plays teenagers, such as Kyle Stack in BBC school drama Waterloo Road.
George underwent three procedures after "feeling low" about his lack of job opportunities.
Sporting a full head of hair, which is set to get even thicker, George opened up about his transplant on This Morning.
- BGT: The Champions, is on ITV, Saturday at 8.30pm
