Results tagged “AMANDA HOLDEN” from Birmingham Mail - Mega Movies

ANYONE who watched tonight's edition of Britain's Got Talent has just seen British TV go over the top in its bid to offer sensationalism on a plate.

Most of the acts were awful, save for Selly Oak's 12-year-old dance senstation Aidan Davis who deservedly stormed into the final.

His years of competing at karate - he won his first black belt at the age of nine - stood him in good stead, both in terms of the physical nature of his act and how he handles himself with mature composure, too.

And there's cool saxophonist Julian Smith, 39, who had already qualified. Between them, Julian and Aidan have a great chance of taking two of the top three places, including winning the whole series.

Birmingham should be really proud of both of them.

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Hollie Steel broke down in tears during her performance of Edelweiss after forgetting the words.

She begged for another go and big boss Simon Cowell said they would find the time from somewhere.

Second time around she battled through, hit the high notes at the end and won the respect of the judges.

Simon said: "Hollie you are officially now the bravest girl in the world. Good for you."

Piers Morgan added: 'That was one of the gutsiest things I've ever seen in my life. I couldn't have done that. You should be very proud of yourself."

And Amanda Holden said: "Hollie, I knew you could do it. You're such a little professional with the most beautiful, innocent pure voice."

All of which may be true.

But here was a girl still shivering like a leaf after all three judges used their own votes to put her into the final. Like GCSEs these days, it seems that failure even when under stress was not an option.

Why? Because all of the other acts were so rubbish!

As well as having to go through it all again tomorrow night, Hollie now faces a punishing UK tour schedule for Britain's Got Talent which would have tested the energy of Bon Jovi when they were all in their 20s.

Even Aidan was speechless at the end.

Perhaps he was worrying about Hollie and Susan Boyle having an adverse effect on each other's nerves in the final.

Like Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler who played far too much top flight football too son, both Hollie and Susan risk being destroyed by the very thing they are seeking.

The winner of this competition on Saturday will get the chance to perform in front of The Queen this autumn, which is one thing.

But, last night, when I was writing this Saturday's TV column for the Birmingham Mail, I thought I'd better point out that £100,000 was too much to be dangled in front of anyone who hasn't learned the hard way the value of money.

Children don't need money as an incentive to do anything if they are enjoying themselves.

No wonder Hollie's mum was on the stage willing her daughter on come what may.

But I really hope she has her daughter's best interests at heart.

Back in September 1993 I had a two-hour telephone conversation with Lena Zavaroni, which still haunts me to this day.

The former Opportunity Knocks star who was sent out of her Scottish comfort zone to perform with the likes of Frank Sinatra, told me how she was dying from anorexia and could not cope with it.

She absolutely knew what was happening to her, but admitted she was totally powerless to do anything about it.

Simon Cowell had the chance to let Hollie go home tonight for a good rest - only to pass the buck.

Instead, he let Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden put her through to the final and then said he'd have made it a third 'Yes'.

But, as the camera cut away, he had a face of stone as if to say: 'I hope we're doing the right thing here having been caught in an impossible situation, the likes of which British TV has never seen before'.

I hope the judges know what they are doing in the way that Lena Zavaroni's family clearly didn't.

And that Hollie's mother will pull her out of the final of her own accord.

Lena died in October 1999 aged just 35.

Working Title Pictures is said to be planning a biopic about her life for release next year and, if it's made, it should be a cautionary tale for every parent.

Meanwhile, if you want to see a little girl having a riot amid chaos, simply hire out Little Miss Sunshine instead.

As most of the contestants in the last semi-final of Britain's Got Talent proved, the series has become so much of a freak show we could scarcely believe it if it was a movie.