Mother and daughter singing duo Ana And Fia received 'about 3,500 yeses' as they were given a standing ovation from the judges and audience on Britain’s Got Talent.
Before their performance, Ana told the judges she had fled from a 'bad, difficult marriage' with her daughter and son Afi last year, and this was the family’s 'fresh start'.
Stunning the judges with their rendition of Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion’s Tell Him, Simon Cowell said: “Ana And Fia, this is the best thing you could possibly do under the circumstances to show you two are completely strong, united – to put on the most amazing performance and the audience loved it.”
Ana and daughter Fia on Britain’s Got Talent (THAMES/SYCO/ITV)
Earning votes from Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon – who said the song gave her goosebumps – Simon then looked at the cheering audience and said: “I’m going to say about 3,500 yesses.”
All six of the show’s dance acts made it through to the next round, led by 28-year-old Saulo Sarmiento, an aerial pole dancer from the Canary Islands who showed off his core strength and contortionist skills with a gravity-defying routine to Muse’s Feeling Good.
Saulo got an immediate yes from David (THAMES/SYCO/ITV)
“It was so beautiful and so graceful. It was like Tarzan with a pole,” said Amanda, while Simon added: “If I could score that, I’d give it a 10.”
Ten-year-old Liverpudlian schoolgirl Chloe Fenton is one step closer to her dream of turning her home into a dance studio after also earning four yeses.
Mixing eye-popping gymnastics into her routine to Tina Turner’s Rolling On The River, a bemused Simon said she reminded him of a Duracell Bunny.
Leeds schoolboy dance trio Mythical PSM, 47-member strong Glasgow girl troupe Deja Vu, Brit School all-male student group Khronos Agoria and duo Flying Bebop – who incorporated eight drones into their futuristic performance – progressed to the next round.
Deja Vu got Alesha excited (THAMES/SYCO/ITV)
There was a close call for 16-year-old singer Morgan Smith as Simon interrupted her performance of Jennifer Hudson’s Spotlight due to the choice of backing track.
Looking visibly panicked, she was calmed by advice from Alesha and Amanda before launching into her second song choice: a jaw-dropping rendition of Etta James’s I’d Rather Go Blind.
“You’re one of the best singers we’ve seen on the show this year,” Simon said, as she received four yesses.
Khronos Agoria had all the moves (THAMES/SYCO/ITV)
Joining her in the next stage will be Cornish musician Josh Curnow, who impressed the judges with his good looks and his determination to prove wrong the teacher that, when diagnosed with dyslexia at 14, told him to aim to be a shelf-stacker.
“That teacher obviously doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” said Simon.
Simon offered support to Josh (THAMES/SYCO/ITV)
Surprisingly, 84-year-old David Forest, who launched into a 10-verse self-penned song about a trip he took on London’s Number 19 bus, was also safe.
“You epitomise this show and Great Britain at its best,” laughed Amanda as all the judges – bar an exasperated Simon – gave Forest a standing ovation and a yes, with David sneaking behind Simon to shout a fourth 'yes'.
