Amanda Holden struggled to hold back tears in Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions’ first semi-final on Saturday, as she awarded Ukranian sand artist Kseniya Simonova the coveted Golden Buzzer.
The star praised her ‘uplifting and emotional’ performance which documented the story of a child battling cancer.
It came as fan favourites Connie Talbott and Paul Potts failed to make it through to final, as the studio audience voted for US duo Bello and Annaliese Nock.
Emotional: Amanda Holden was left in tears in Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions’ first semi-final, as she awarded Ukranian sand artist Kseniya Simonova the coveted Golden Buzzer
Distraught: The judge praised the ‘uplifting and emotional’ performance and pressed the buzzer sending her straight through to the final
For the performance, Kseniya – who won the very first series of Ukraine’s Got Talent – moved the entire audience through a series of animations in a tray of sand.
While the performance earned a thunderous reception from the crowd, it was Amanda who pressed the buzzer which sent her straight through to the final.
She then said: ‘I heard your story at the beginning of how you work with cancer patients, so the whole message was very uplifting and very emotional.
‘For me your quiet skill requires no language, nothing needed explaining you did it with just sand it was absolutely beautiful.’
Incredible: For the performance, Kseniya – who won the very first series of Ukraine’s Got Talent – moved the entire audience through a series of animations in a tray of sand
Glamorous: The beautiful star wowed the crowd with her performance, which earned her a place in the final in five weeks time
I pick you! As the judge who had received the Golden Buzzer for that week, Amanda chose Kseniya for a spot in the final
After the nine acts had performed, it was time to reveal who the studio audience had chosen to receive a place in the final.
Despite wowing viewers with their incredible performances, BGT 2007 stars Connie and Paul failed to make the top three, which consisted of Ashleigh Butler and her dog Sully, US father-daughter duo Bello and Annaliese Nock and the legendary dancing Stormtroopers Boogie Storm.
The judges struggled to hide their shock that neither singers had finished highly in the voting, with viewers at home equally outraged.
Outrageous: It comes as many viewers were fuming to see US father-daughter duo Bello and Annaliese Nock win the audience vote over several fan-favourite acts
Shocking: BGT 2007 winner Paul Potts was considered a hot contender by many, but failed to even make the top three
Not even her? Connie was also tipped to perform well in the competition, but was swiftly eliminated
Outrageous: The judges struggled to hide their shock as both Paul and Connie Talbott failed to make the final
One posted: ‘Catching up on #bgtchampions but just seen Connie hasn’t gotten through WHAT!?!? She was AMAZING I’m gutted.’
Another wrote: ‘It’s bad that Connie didn’t get through to the final but the fact she didn’t make the top 3 just shows how the whole ‘The audience get to choose who goes through’ was definitely the wrong decision by producers.’
A third also tweeted: ‘Paul Potts and Connie should have definitely been in the top three.’
Fuming: Viewers took to Twitter in uproar at the decision, as they insisted Paul and Connie should have earned a spot in the final
Connie stunned viewers when she returned to the show that made her a star after a staggering 12 years.
No longer a toothy six-year-old, the now 18-year-old stunned with her idyllic vocals, as she accompanied the performance on the piano.
Simon praised: ‘Connie you have teeth! I will remember that first audition for the rest of my life, I don’t think we’d be sitting here today if it wasn’t for you so we owe you a massive thank you. You’ve come back once again as a star.’
She’s changed! And after first competing on the show in 2007 as a toothy six-year-old, Connie Talbot stunned the judges with her incredible vocals
Throwback! The now 18-year-old singer wowed with her amazing performance, as Simon said they ‘wouldn’t be sitting there today’ if it wasn’t for her audition
Paul, 48, also earned a standing ovation as he returned to the stage after being crowned the first ever Britain’s Got Talent champion.
The former mobile phone salesman once again wowed with his jaw-dropping opera skills, this time to the most famous theme song from The Godfather.
Alesha praised: ‘It must feel like coming home, you belong on that stage. One of the things I love about you is your humility, another powerful performance, well done my friend.
Amanda added: One of the things we love about you is how down to earth you are, you’ve had a massive story of success, and nothing of you has changed apart from your teeth Paul.’
History-making: Paul, 48, also earned a standing ovation as he returned to the stage after being crowned the first ever Britain’s Got Talent champion
Brilliant: The former mobile phone salesman once again wowed with his jaw-dropping opera skills, this time to the most famous theme song from The Godfather
It comes after BGT 2012 champion Ashleigh and her new dog Sully kicked off the first semi-final.
The pair’s partnership came after the stars’ beloved dog Pudsey – with whom she won the show – passed away in 2017.
Once again the pair delighted viewers with a vintage Mary Poppins-inspired routine that showed off the pooch’s amazing moves.
David Walliams gushed: ‘I love that, the set was of course based on my bedroom, all those year ago the national fell in love with Ashleigh and Pudsey and tonight we all fell in love with Ashleigh and Sully.’
United: It comes after BGT 2012 champion Ashleigh and her new dog Sully kicked off the first semi-final
Lovely: Once again the pair delighted viewers with a vintage Mary Poppins-inspired routine that showed off the pooch’s amazing moves
Sweet: Presenter Ant McPartlin even got a kiss from Sully after he wowed the judges with the performance
Next to perform were the eventual winners Bello and Annaliese Nock, who became overnight sensations when they competed separately on America’s Got Talent.
Joining forces for the first time, the pair left viewers – and the judges – gasping for breath, as they performed on a rotating setup of iron poles – without a safety net.
The daredevils’ act saw the poles repeatedly rotate with both Bello and Annaliese moving and hanging on the structure with ease.
USA! Next to perform were the eventual winners Bello and Annaliese Nock, who were performing together for the first time
Heart-stopping: The pair became overnight sensations when they competed separately on America’s Got Talent
Heart-stopping: The daredevils’ act saw the poles repeatedly rotate with both Bello and Annaliese moving and hanging on the structure with ease
Jaw-dropping: Next to perform were the US father-daughter duo Bello and Annaliese Nick, who became overnight sensations when they competed separately on America’s Got Talent
Stunning: Amanda put on a glamorous display as she appeared on the judging panel in a beautiful plunging white and yellow gown
Simon Cowell particularly commended the pair for being alive each time he sses them, adding: ‘You two are certifiably insane, and I mean that as a compliment. The reaction here is everything I hope it would be.
‘Since I got to know both of you, you are one of the most incredible acts we’ve had on GT over the years. You’re still alive, so thank you.’
David also pointed out Bello’s distinct blonde hair, adding: ‘It was absolutely horrible, I could barely watch you, don’t we have a health and safety department on this show – it was abs incredible you look like you’re Jedward’s dad.’
I’m scared! Asia’s Got Talent’s The Sacred Riana also caused chills with her terrifying illusion act, dragging a petrified Amanda onto the stage
Funnymen: The Nelson Twins also left the judges in hysterics after travelling all the way from Australian with their comical double act
They got moves! Bad Salsa Sonali and Sarder also stunned with an incredible acrobatic dance routine after competing on India’s Got Talent
They’re back! And as ever Boogie Storm earned a rousing response as the dancing Stormtroopers returned with a miniature new addition
Playful: The mini-Trooper led Simon to ask whether his son Eric, five, had secretly joined the troupe
The Nelson Twins also left the judges in hysterics after travelling all the way from Australian with their comical double act.
Bad Salsa Sonali and Sarder also stunned with an incredible acrobatic dance routine after competing on India’s Got Talent.
Asia’s Got Talent’s The Sacred Riana also caused chills with her terrifying illusion act, dragging a petrified Amanda onto the stage to the apparent fear of her fellow judges.
And as ever Boogie Storm earned a rousing response as the dancing Stormtroopers returned with a miniature new addition, which led Simon to ask whether his son Eric, five, had secretly joined the troupe.
Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions continues on Saturday 7th September at 8pm on ITV.
Back soon: Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions continues on Saturday 7th September at 8pm on ITV