Britain’s Got Talent: Only Boys Aloud roundup of best bits

The Britain’s Got Talent final is almost upon us and the competition is hotting up as the nervous acts get ready to compete for a place in this year’s Royal Variety Show.

Welsh choir Only Boys Aloud have made it to the final after beating off stiff competition from boy band The Mend, and choir master Tim Rhys-Evans is delighted that his lads have made it this far.

"I'm over the moon for these guys,” he said. “They worked really, really hard. It's an amazing opportunity."

The 133-strong male choir from the South Wales Valleys was set up for boys aged between 14 and 19 to breathe new life into the traditional all boys' choir. The choir helps to keep the teenagers out of trouble and gives them the chance to shine.

The boys, who perform a mix of Welsh tunes and pop hits, impressed the judges during their very first audition and brought a tear to Amanda Holden’s eye with their soulful rendition of a classic Welsh song.

Simon was delighted with the boys, telling them: “I have got a very, very good feeling about you lot. I really, really loved what you did.

“I’ve never heard that song before but I absolutely love it and I think you guys are amazing.”

MORE TALENT

With four yes votes, they went straight through to the semi-finals, but it was unclear whether they would all fit into Fountain Studios for their performance, and they revealed that they would quit if one of them had to leave.

However, they managed to work things out and made it to the semis, where they performed the traditional song Gwahoddiad in Welsh – a hymn of hope - to an enraptured audience during Monday night's first live show.

After receiving a standing ovation from the audience, the judges were stunned with how good the boys had performed, and Amanda dubbed them 'the voice of Wales'. Alesha was equally impressed and said: “That was inspiring. I appreciate that you stuck to your roots tonight with something traditional.”

Only Boys Aloud received votes from Simon and Amanda, but with David and Alesha voting for boy band The Mend, it was down to the public vote to determine who went through to the final, and the Welsh choir were ecstatic when it was revealed that they’d made it through.

If they win, the £500,000 prize money will go towards developing the Only Boys Aloud charity, which aims to inspire young men in the area to discover the positive experience of being involved in a choir.

Britain’s Got Talent continues on STV tonight from 7.30pm.