Violinist Lettice and rappers Bars and Melody advance to Britain's Got Talent final

Classical violinist Lettice Rowbotham was almost rendered speechless as she earned her place in the Britain's Got Talent final.

The 24-year-old, described as the 'poshest contestant we've had on the show' by judge David Walliams after her audition, stunned audiences with her electric act.

Simon Cowell described her as 'fantastically talented' as he chose her to go through into the final, saying: "I think with the right production you could do great".

Also winning a place in the Britain's Got Talent final were teenage rap sensation Bars and Melody - 13-year-old Leondre Devries and his friend Charlie Leneham, 15.

The pair's performance of Puff Daddy's I'll Be Missing You proved to be a hit with viewers, with the boys' popularity already having led to them appearing on American TV after they were invited to be guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Judge Alesha Dixon told them after they sang: "Every time I've seen you my heart's just melted. I've fallen in love with you. That was a brilliant performance, well done."

Simon added: "I think you're amazing. I think this is a very, very difficult song to sing on the chorus. I would have liked a little bit more time with you to work on that. The rap was outstanding. I know what I like about you two - you're talented and likeable."

Meanwhile the judges were also full of praise for Lettice's performance, with David telling her: "You've got such an amazing personality and such an amazing stage personality.

"It was kind of a bit avant-garde, wasn't it. We're not used to that on this show. I think you're a real star and you're going to do really well."

Amanda Holden said: "I know we see this kind of bubblicious sexpot that you are, but I know that you take your music really seriously and I don't think people should forget that. That takes years and years of practice."

During the results show the audience was also entertained by Will.i.am performing his new single, Birthday.

Just 45 acts have made it through to the live Britain's Got Talentsemi-finals from the thousands who applied and the hundreds who auditioned.

They are now battling it out on the ITV1 show to win the prize of £250,000 and a spot at the Royal Variety Performance.

The next semi-final takes place on Saturday, while the final is on June 7.

 

Press Association

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.