Britain’s Got Talent - Live

Published Monday 9 June 2008 at 12:10 by Chris High

Variety, it seems, is the spice of life and the screams that followed the Beatles are alive and well in the Fab Four’s hometown. The mere mention of this year’s winner, 14-year-old Singin’ in the Rain dance sensation George Sampson, is proof of this, with Stephen Mulhern - a fantastic choice as compare - teasing the audience at regular intervals with promises of the young man’s arrival on stage, bringing delirium to the pre-pubescent faithful at every turn.

From Kate and her dancing six-year-old Collie, Gin, through to the fantastic voice of Faryl Smith, whose duet of Walking in the Air with other classical star in the making, Andrew Johnston, was almost worth the entry fee on its own.

Signature and Nemesis - two of four dance acts on the tour bus - had people body-popping in the aisles, while the Cheeky Monkeys had everyone going “ahhh” in unison.

All this said though, during the interval, it was clear that the older members of the audience were most looking forward to seeing just one act, the electric classical string quartet, Escala, who showed that if for nothing else, the TV extravaganza should be lauded for unearthing at least one act with longevity written all over them, as truly mesmerising versions of Live And Let Die and then Palladio shows.

Britain’s Got Talent may be a sometimes schmaltzy vehicle for wannabes of the future, but nevertheless the spin-off live show is guaranteed to get you smiling at all the way home - and possibly trying to do a few back-flips in puddles too.