Britain's Got Talent returned to screens with a bang on Saturday night. And at the end of the very first episode, Simon Cowell surprised viewers by pressing the golden buzzer. The TV judge was seriously stunned by 15-year-old Sarah Ikumu from Milton Keynes, who gave a jaw-dropping performance of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. Simon, 57, praised the teenager for making the Jennifer Hudson song her own, while fellow judge Alesha Dixon said a girl her age shouldn't be allowed to have that much talent.
David Walliams and Amanda Holden were all equally impressed with Sarah, who was thrilled to bits when the gold confetti showered down on her on stage. Her proud parents and sister jumped out of their seats to join her, hugging her tightly and saying how proud they were. Viewers at home also praised Sarah for her breathtaking Dreamgirls performance. One fan wrote: "She was truly amazing, bless her," while another posted: "You need to watch this girl, she will blow your mind."
The first episode proved a hit with Britain's Got Talent fans, who laughed out loud and welled up with each different performance. One act, The Missing People Choir, reduced the judges and live audience to tears. The choir is made up of people who have lost a loved one, and Missing People Choir staff and volunteers.
© Photo: ITVThe Missing People Choir on Britain's Got Talent
Choir member Peter Boxell wrote the song I Miss You for his son Lee, who has been missing since 1988. The poignant song includes the lyrics: "I never thought I'd be without you. I always thought you'd be here safe with me. Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up to find you." Claudia Lawrence's father Peter is another member of the choir, while it's been reported that Madeleine McCann's mother Kate, an ambassador for the choir, could perform on BGT if the group progresses to the live shows.
Also taking to the stage in the first episode were mind readers Darren and Andrew, who "spooked" the judges with their tricks. They were able to 'read' Amanda's mind and guess the last three digits of her sister Debbie's phone number, and also guess what celebrity calendar Simon was thinking of.
© Photo: ITVDoga teacher Mahny and her dog Robbie
Meanwhile, 'doga' teacher Mahny provided the laughs with her dog Robbie. Mahny showed the judges how to practice yoga with their dogs, inviting Simon, David and Amanda to join her on stage with their pet pooches. Ant and Dec also got involved, until Dec's dog peed on stage and was taken away.
