BGT judges rave over impressionist Paul

BGT judges rave over impressionist Paul
BGT judges rave over impressionist Paul (Image credit: Ken McKay)

Eight acts will battle it out in the fourth live semi-final of Britain's Got Talent. The top two acts will join impressionist Paul Burling and singer Christopher Stone in the live final on Saturday night. Paul stole the show on Wednesday night with his comedic impersonations. The 40-year-old had the judges rolling in their seats as he mimicked Alan Carr, Harry Hill and even fearsome judge Simon Cowell in the third semi-final. Paul secured an automatic finalists' place after scoring the highest number of viewers' votes among the eight acts performing. The father-of-two has been striving to kick start his career for 25 years. Judge Amanda Holden said: "I love that you have worked 25 years, you have worked your butt off, you have really honed your act. You were brilliant tonight." Piers Morgan added: "You are one of the best impressionists we have had." Fellow finalist 28-year-old singer Christopher Stone wowed the audience with his rendition of The Impossible Dream. Cowell told the balding accountant: "To see you come out tonight with confidence and real charisma and nail a really difficult song like that - I am really, really proud of you. I think you did terrifically." Each night this week, the 40 semi-finalists are being whittled down in live shows until the remaining 10 battle it out in Saturday's final for a chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance. The first part of the live show starts on Thursday night at 7.30pm on ITV1.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.