On Britain’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell admits to breaching the rules when an emotive performance had all of the judges in tears.
After Bruno Tonioli insisted on pressing the Golden Buzzer a third time, the media mogul threw the regulations out the window and sent the act directly to the semi-finals.
The dancing ensemble Unity closed up Saturday’s round of tryouts with a ‘amazing’ routine to Wrabel’s The Village.
The group of college pals, aged 16 to 25, presented a performance on “being told you can’t or you’re not enough.”
The performance left Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden, as well as Bruno and Simon, noticeably upset, with the former Strictly Come Dancing judge sobbing up.
The powerful act saw one auditionee tell the audience: ‘I’m Declan, and labels don’t define me, I push the gender boundaries but don’t allow discrimination to change who I am.
‘People stare and say things, they try to label me, they say I can’t be who I am, I will.’
Another said: ‘I’m Junior, growing up I was bullied for my love of dance.
‘Dancing makes me feel free, and allows me to act out my feelings in a safe place.
‘Bullies ruined this, I was beaten up and called names, all because a boy loved to dance.’
Many in the crowd were moved to tears by his remarks, and dancer Bruno was left fighting back emotions as Amanda’s eyes glazed over.
The crowd chanted “Golden Nuzzer” at the end of the spectacular performance, which received standing ovations from all four judges.
‘You can be anything and anyone you want to be in life, the message is loud and clear, the execution artistically, your choreography was superb,’ Bruno praised.
‘There aren’t any golds left,’ Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly began backstage.
Meanwhile Bruno told his fellow judges: ‘I’ve already done it twice, I can’t anymore.’
Simon added: ‘I thought that actually was astonishing – the way that you got your message across, it was so strong.
‘It was an audition I will never forget.
‘What you’ve done, you’ve done it your way.’
He then said: ‘We don’t have any Golden Buzzers left… but sometimes I feel you should break the rules.’
The former X Factor judge then sent the act soaring through to the semi-finals, as Dec said: ‘I don’t know what’s going on anymore!’
Simon added: ‘Honestly you deserve that Golden Buzzer, that was absolutely beautiful.’
Britain’s Got Talent continues on Saturday at 8pm on ITV1.
