Alesha Dixon was left stunned on Saturday night after she spotted a familiar face auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent – a pianist from her noughties girl band, Mis-Teeq.
The singer became an overnight success with former band-members Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington following the release of debut album Lickin’ On Both Sides at the height of the UK garage scene in 2001.
But upon the ITV show’s return to screens, Alesha, 44, quickly realised she had spotted someone she knew.
Auditioning as part of a 350-person ‘community choir’, the group’s leader, Gemma revealed she had put together the act together alongside her husband Howard.
It was at this point that Alesha interjected, admitting: ‘I actually know Howard very well… How are you Howard?’
Familiar: Alesha Dixon was left stunned on Saturday night after she spotted a familiar face auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent – a pianist from her noughties girl band, Mis-Teeq
New judge Bruno Tonioli, then eager to know, asked: ‘How do you know him?’
‘Because he used to play for Mis-Teeq’, Alesha clarified.
Named The Big Sing, the community choir was made up of vocalists ranging from aged three right up to 83.
They then went on to blow everyone away with a powerful performance of Brighter Days by Emeli Sandé – surprising the arena by hiding in the audience.
Howard played piano for the choir, who earned a standing ovation, as well as four yeses from the panel.
Praising the talents of the choir Alesha struggled for words.
‘How do we sum this up?’, she said, amazed.
‘I just felt so joyful through the whole thing. Outstanding.’
Old faces: Upon the ITV show’s return to screens, Alesha, 44, quickly realised she had spotted someone she knew
Old times: The singer became an overnight success with former band-members Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash following the release of debut album Lickin’ On Both Sides (pictured in 2003)
‘It reminded me of the scene in Wizard of Oz where everything is in black and white and then the magic happened,’ Amanda added.
Elsewhere in the show, Britain’s Got Talent returned to screens with a bang on Saturday night as one magic act left judges Alesha and Amanda in tears.
Cillian O’Connor, 13, completed a series of amazing tricks, including reading Simon’s mind.
The Irish schoolboy admitted that before he turned to magic, he struggled socially due to autism and that it had transformed his confidence.
After he got a standing ovation and later four yeses, he burst into tears and hugged his mother, leaving Amanda and Alesha equally emotional.
Amanda said: ‘You’ve made me and Alesha a mess. You are amazing.
‘Great showmanship, I’m glad magic has given you so much confidence but above all you are a little superstar.’
Alesha added: ‘I loved everything about it and especially you, it’s clear how much this means to you which makes it extra special.’
Proud: Auditioning as part of a 350-person ‘community choir’, the group’s leader, Gemma revealed she had put together the act together alongside her husband Howard
Diverse: Named The Big Sing, the community choir was made up of vocalists ranging from aged three right up to 83
And Bruno said: ‘I was totally captivated by what you’re doing which for somebody so young is an incredible quality. You have a fantastic future in front of you.’
Twitter was ablaze with impressed fans after the act, with one person writing: ‘That young magician is very very good and I’ve been to a few Derren Brown shows. Seams like a nice guy as well.’
Another added: ‘That autistic magician dude ruled tbh man’.
A third said: ‘As a person living with autism all my life, I’m immensely proud of your achievement as one of the greatest magicians that I ever seen on BGT so far.’
Elsewhere, a separate person said: ‘Absolutely brilliant, brought a tear to my eye.’
Equally impressed watchers penned: ‘Well done Cillian’ and ‘Well Done.’
It comes after Simon revealed he ‘wasn’t involved’ in David Walliams‘ decision to leave the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel.
Breaking his silence on the comedian’s exit, the TV mogul admitted he’d ‘never condone’ his sexual remarks towards other contestants, for which he apologised before stepping down from the show.
Talented: Britain’s Got Talent judges were brought to tears after 13-year-old Cillian O’Connor’s magic act on Saturday’s show
Simon added that despite being an executive producer and judge on the show, talks surrounding David’s exit involved other producers who were more ‘hands-on.’
Speaking to The Sun, he said: ‘I didn’t really get involved in the decision. From what I understand, he decided to take a step back.
‘We did say to the two producers, ”You have to make the final decision” because, yeah, I am an exec producer, but they’re more hands on.’
Simon added that for much of his time on BGT, David was ‘very respectful and emotional’ about other contestants.
But he continued: ‘We had a conversation. But you know, he owned what he said, he wasn’t proud of what he said. This is not something that I would ever condone.’
The comments, made in January 2020 during auditions at the London Palladium, were picked up on the programme’s microphones and revealed in December 2022.
During the audition, an older performer engaged in banter with the judges in which he made a jibe about Walliams. After the audition, the pensioner left, at which point Walliams is said to have called him a ‘c***’ three times.
Breaking his silence: It comes after Simon revealed he ‘wasn’t involved’ in David Walliams ‘ decision to leave the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel
