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The lights in the Odyssey dimmed and a voiceover announced “over 19 million people watched the grand final”, and although the Odyssey holds nowhere near that capacity, the noise from the crowd would suggest otherwise.
A montage of clips from the show further excited the audience, and winning dance troupe Diversity exploded onto the stage with a hip-hop-inspired performance complete with a Michael Jackson tribute.
Dance group Flawless also paid homage to the King of Pop, and were joined onstage by George Sampson in a special cameo, which sent the audience into hysteria.
Stephen Mulhern announced the arrival of Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle by describing her as: “The most Googled person on the planet!”
Boyle sang before the crowd in a floor-length silver gown, and wiped away any former no-show controversy by dazzling the audience with renditions of her audition song, I Dreamed A Dream (from Les Miserables), and semi-final track Memory (from Cats).
Despite reports of crumbling under the pressure of her sudden rise to fame she exuded a confidence resembling that of a veteran who has been performing for years, rather than a Scot plucked from obscurity a few months ago.
No theatrics were required, a simple spotlight shone on Boyle as she stretched her arms out to her adoring audience, who gave her a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of her performance.
Summing up the thoughts of the thousands in attendance in the Odyssey, Mulhern exclaimed: “Britain’s Got Talent, and Britain’s got Susan Boyle!”
EMMA-LOUISE GIBSON
