Jai McDowell and Steven Hall advance to BGT final

Jai McDowell and Steven Hall advance to BGT final
Jai McDowell and Steven Hall advance to BGT final (Image credit: Ken McKay/Talkback Thames)

They did it in different styles, but singer Jai McDowell and dancer Steven Hall will both be at the live final of Britain's Got Talent. Jai McDowell made it through comfortably, winning the public vote after a belting cover of Bring Me To Life by American goth rockers Evanescence. But Steven Hall took took it down to the wire in a showdown with singer Edward Reid - and managed to convince judges Michael McIntyre, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell to give him their winning votes. Commenting on McDowell's performance, Michael said: "The power, the passion, it's like having William Wallace here. The only thing missing is you should end all your songs with 'freedom'." Enthusiasm for Steven's comedy dance act was not as unanimous. As the last two acts to make the top three, Steven and novelty singer Edward battled it out for the judges' favour. Hall got no buzzers, which the judges use to signal their dislike of an act. But his display was not to David Hasselhoff's liking. The Hoff said: "I don't know where I am. That was the weirdest act ever but somehow I enjoyed it. It's entertaining but I don't know if it has a place in the finals." But Michael, Amanda and Simon all backed the 53-year-old telecommunications engineer from Kendal, Cumbria. Jai and steven now have the chance the chance to win £100,000 and to perform before The Queen at the Royal Variety show. They will be battling it out with confirmed finalists Les Gibson, James Hobley, New Bounce, Jean Martyn, Ronan Parke and Paul Gbegbaje on Saturday. Friday night's semi-finalists include: The Celtic Colleens Pip & Puppy Marawa the Amazing Mr & Mrs Follow The Right Path Antonio Popeye Michael Collings Razy Gogonea

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.