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The Britain's Got Talent 2013 finalists hoping to steal the show

 

Anthony Barnes
Friday 07 June 2013 12:28 EDT
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Tomorrow night 11 finalists will be hoping they will triumph when ITV series Britain's Got Talent reaches its climax.

Thousands of hopefuls were whittled down to 45 for the live semi-finals and now the last few remain, aiming to win a £250,000 prize and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance later this year.

Here are the acts who are through, with one further "wild card" artist to be announced tomorrow night when the show begins:

Arisxandra Libantino, 11, from Nottingham

The singer raised a few eyebrows when she performed a track about a one-night stand during her audition, but her abilities shone through. The youngster, whose family moved to the UK from the Philippines nearly a decade ago, wowed once more in the semi-finals when she sang Whitney Houston's I Have Nothing, and there were tears of relief when she went through on the public vote.

Asanda Jezile, 11, from Thamesmead, London

Singer Asanda admits she is "a little bit of a diva" and says when she is singing she feels "magic". Inspired by Beyonce and Rihanna, she couples her voice by busting some moves on stage.

She took on the Beyonce track Halo for the semi-finals prompting judge Simon Cowell to say she had the "wow factor".

Attraction, aged from 18 to 40, from Hungary

The troupe of shadow dancers have previously been on the German and Hungarian equivalents of BGT, but said they wanted to win this show because this was the biggest programme of its type. The eight-strong group dance and create tableau images with their silhouettes which brought tears to the judges' eyes at the audition, and brought a similar response at the semi-final, which also prompted a standing ovation.

Francine Lewis, 37, Essex

Impressionist Lewis has already tasted fame as a glamour model and as a presenter and contestant on a number of other TV shows. She was most recently among the cast of Channel 4's Very Important People.

During her semi-final performance her impressions included Dot Cotton from EastEnders and Sharon Osbourne, which Cowell said was so convincing "it was scary".

Gabrielle "Gabz" Gardiner, 14, from Stevenage

The singer/songwriter almost missed out on the chance to appear on the show because her parents were unimpressed by her "bit of attitude" at home. However she managed to improve her behaviour and they allowed her to audition. She impressed judges - and viewers - with her track The One, one of more than 30 songs she has written. And after performing it again in the semi-finals David Walliams demanded: "Simon Cowell, get that song onto iTunes now."

Jack Carroll, 14, from Halifax

The teen comedian, who has cerebral palsy, had the judges in hysterics before his routine even began as the he took to the stage using his walking frame and told them: "I'm a professional gymnast."

Jack jokes about his condition during his routine and during his audition. Walliams called him a "comedy genius". During his semi-final performance he joked that next year Cowell would be replaced on the panel by North Korea dictator Kim Jong-Un.

Jordan O'Keefe, 18, from Londonderry, Northern Ireland

The singer previously tried out for The X Factor, standing next to One Direction's Niall Horan at the audition, but he went home broken-hearted after failing to win through. The student performed an acoustic guitar version of chart-topping hit I Will Always Love You during the semi-finals.

Luminites, aged between 18 and 21, from Essex

The group has been together for two years and was assembled when Jordan Clarke and Stephanie Edwards were students, Ben Francis was a busker and Corey Layzell was a wheel mechanic. They put their stamp on Bee Gees hit To Love Somebody for the semi-final with Walliams labelling them the "the ones to watch".

Pre-Skool, aged between five and eight, from Port Talbot, south Wales

The young dance troupe followed in the footsteps of some of their older siblings - Nu Sxool - who made it to the final of BGT in 2012. They are masterminded by the same choreographer Terry Michael. Judge Amanda Holden was so confident the children would win through to the climax of the series she pledged: "If you're not in the final, I will kiss Simon Cowell." They won a place on the public vote.

Richard and Adam Johnson, 19 and 22, from Holywell, Wales

The operatic brothers currently make sandwiches for a living and have occasionally performed on cruise ships. They have been cheered on by their devoted nan Lorna Slack who was in the audience to see their semi-final performance of Somewhere from West Side Story. They won through to the final on the public vote.

Wild card - the final act will be announced when the final begins tomorrow.

PA

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