Linslade's Liam still has glimmer of Britain's Got Talent hope

Liam Wells, 20, and fellow members of The Collaborative Orchestra and Singers, finished fifth in the public vote of last night’s semi-final heat which was won by 12-year-old singer Beau Dermott, and saw dancer Balance also make it through to compete for the £250,000 prize along with the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

Liam’s 66-strong group failed to make the cut, but there remains hope because as well as the public choosing a wildcard act from the third-placed performers who didn’t make it through across the five semi-final nights, the judges can also select any act voted out in the semi-finals stage.

And with The Collaborative Orchestra and Singers getting a standing ovation from the judges at the Wembley Park Fountain Studios after their rendition of The Beatles’ Hey Jude, they could yet be saved.

The patriotic performance started with footage of the group travelling across London in an open top bus and the action then cut to the studio where the orchestra were already on the stage, with singers once again popping up amongst the audience, who were waving Union flags as the red, white and blue ticker tape poured down.

Judge Alesha Dixon purred: “That was epic. You have taken over the entire stadium. This act has the Royal Variety Performance all over it.”

Amanda Holden added: “It was sensational. The atmosphere you created in the room, the energy that you bring. You are all so gifted. It would be amazing at The Royal Variety.”

Simon Cowell said: “I have never seen or heard anything like this on the show.”

While David Walliams said: “It is just so exciting. At one point I didn’t think there would be anyone left there watching it and that everyone was in the choir!”

Liam was naturally disappointed not to have made it into the top three.

He said: “It happens. We are all happy that we got to the semi-final stage. We saw Beau’s rehearsal and we knew she was going through, but I thought we might come second.

“We did everything we could. We put all our energy into it, but it was obviously not enough, although I think there’s still a chance we could be the judges’ wildcard.

“The performance was really British, it was all our idea. I think a lot of people loved us. It’s now about trying to keep that energy going and we want to use this publicity. We want to do a rock event, it’d be really cool in a stadium.”

Liam, a former pupil at Cedars Upper, plus Linslade Middle and Linslade Lower schools, moved to London from his family home in Vimy Road, to pursue his love of music back in November and now works at Ted Baker in Covent Garden. He performs with a friend at open mic nights and has been busking in Covent Garden.