Simon Cowell was quick to respond to 'fix' claims as the penultimate semi-final show of Britain's Got Talent took place. Thursday night saw several more acts take to the stage in a bid to make it through to the ITV talent show's grand final on Sunday (June 5).
Singing key workers Frontline Singers, panto group Dame Nation, Titan the Robot, and The Phantom were among the acts vying for a place in the final but many failed to impress judges Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and David Walliams.
However, it was singer Loren Allred who stunned the four-piece and the audience during the latest live semi-final, securing herself a place in Sunday’s final and a chance to grab the £250,000 prize pot and a converted space at the next Royal Variety Performance. The session singer and the voice behind the track Never Enough from The Greatest Showman, Allred, 32, impressed the judging panel in her audition and received Amanda's Golden Buzzer.
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She returned to the stage, at Hammersmith Apollo, last night (June 2) and impressed once again with an emotional performance of You Say by Lauren Daigle and was crowned the winner of the evening's show by the British public. After Loren received a standing ovation from all four judges and audience members, David Walliams told the New York-born performer: "I’m really glad you showed a different side of yourself tonight and showed you’re so much more than one song. We could be looking at the winner of Britain’s Got Talent."
But Simon was quick to address the outrage from her first audition and pre-empted what was to come following last night's result. After praising her performance, the 62-year-old said: "I also know you got a bit of stick in the media, 'It’s a fix because you’ve been on another show. " He added: "That’s the whole point of shows like this, that you give someone another chance."
Alesha also made reference to the upset, saying Loren had "just as much of a right" to be in the competition as anyone else and the she had to "work harder" to get to where she was. "I would love to see you get through to the final, I think you’ve earned it, you deserve it," the mum-of-two added.
However, it didn't make BGT viewers any more impressed at the result. @rubydoobz88 fumed: "Biggest joke ever Loren being there! Someone who is the voice in a mega movie and she also already has her own music out! I remember the days when no "professional" was able to take part in things like bgt."
@miaasmith.xx said: "I swear to god if that loren girl wins i’m done. a professional singer on the show pleaseee." @marliamme argued: "Whether or not you didn’t see her face in the film, Loren Allred is incredibly famous and shouldn’t be anywhere near this competition vs those who aren’t already successful. #BGT #BritainsGotTalent."
@felicityx03 wrote: "Loren Allred is famous, why do they keep going on acting as if she isn’t ?? She’s literally received AWARDS for the song #BGT #BritainsGotTalent." @litlauren1 asked: "How has Loren got just as much of a right to be on the show? A little girl with an amazing voice got booted off last night and a professional singer will 100% make it to the final #bgt."
Singer Tom Ball and comedian Eva Abley secured spots in Sunday’s final during Wednesday night’s third semi-final. Impressionist Ben Nickless and musical duo Flintz and Taylor previously made it through to the final after successful performances, and busker Maxwell Thorpe and 13-year-old ventriloquist Jamie Leahey secured their places after their performances during Monday’s show.
The Britain’s Got Talent live semi-finals conclude on Friday, June 3, at 8pm on ITV.
