Dance troupe MerseyGirls have made an emotional return to the Britain’s Got Talent stage as they earned a place in the grand final of spin-off series The Champions.
It comes less than two years after judge Simon Cowell paid for spinal surgery for member Julia Carlile, who had been told she would never dance again after being treated for scoliosis.
The group earned a place in the final after the judges watched in amazement as Carlile performed back bends and back flips on stage during a high-energy routine.
The @MerseyGirls are fighting fit and ready to battle it out for that title of champion!🏆https://t.co/UqaA3Twdwd
Watch their incredible return on #BGTChampions tomorrow night, 8:30pm on @ITV and @WeAreSTV
— Britain's Got Talent (@BGT) September 6, 2019
Cowell told them: “It is one person’s strength, and beyond that is the friendship and support; the fact you stayed together and supported each other and the fact you were able to came back tonight – it’s everything.”
Discussing her previous appearance on BGT when the group reached the finals in 2017, Carlile said she had never told anyone about her back problems or shown her curved spine to others.
She said: “I had always covered it up. It was so scary, I thought it was going to be the last time I was going to dance.
“I had my fusion surgery in the UK booked literally a month after Britain’s Got Talent and I was told I would never be able to dance again.
“When Simon heard my story he said he would love to help me get my surgery in America so I could dance forever.”
The inspirational @MerseyGirls are back to take on the world, and prove that anything is possible! 💪
Watch the girls in action on #BGTChampions tomorrow at 8:30pm on @ITV and @WeAreSTV pic.twitter.com/5B6Bcwd1KD
— Britain's Got Talent (@BGT) September 6, 2019
However she explained that she still had to learn to sit, walk and dance all over again after the operation.
After watching the performance, judge David Walliams said: “This is really emotional.
“We are all absolutely in bits, I’m sure the nation is too. Well done girls, every one of you made something really special.”
Alesha Dixon, who hit the golden buzzer for the group in 2017, said: “If I had another golden buzzer I would have pressed it again. When you did the back flip across stage it made my heart soar,” while Amanda Holden hailed Carlile as “a walking miracle, a dancing, back-flipping miracle”.
She added: “I think it’s one of the most emotional performances we have ever had on the show and all you girls are absolutely outstanding dancers.”
Overcome by emotion on stage Carlile replied: “I literally thought by now I would be at home, not dancing for the rest of my life.
“Here I am at Wembley, back flipping with my best friends, it’s crazy.
“I couldn’t walk two years ago and now I’m here.”
It's been eight years since @Jai_McDowall won Britain's Got Talent, and this week he's returning to the BGT stage hoping to become the champion of champions!🏆
Don't miss Jai's #BGT comeback, this Saturday on @ITV and @WeAreSTV 🌟#BGTChampions pic.twitter.com/I1OqJt5cBA
— Britain's Got Talent (@BGT) September 3, 2019
The group were chosen for a place in the final by the live audience of super fans at Wembley, beating hopeful Jai McDowall, who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2011 and last year’s winner Lost Voice Guy.
NcDowall said he was taking part in the show to prove to Cowell he had been a worthy winner after he was dropped from his record label shortly after the release of his debut album.
Cowell told him: “In 2011 I remember my issue or problem at the time was I was struggling to find out where you fitted into the market and the fact that I never gave you any support during or after the show and you have the guts to come back and prove a point to me, which is that you have grown in stature and grown in confidence.”
FIRST LOOK: @LostVoiceGuy is BACK, and boy does he have some cheeky one-liners up his sleeve 😂
Watch him in action tomorrow when the #BGTChampions battle continues. 8:30pm @ITV and @WeAreSTV 🏆🌟 pic.twitter.com/o1caP0bqkI
— Britain's Got Talent (@BGT) September 7, 2019
He added: “I owe you an apology for not giving you the support I should have given you at the time and I respect the fact that you have come back to make me look like an idiot and you look fantastic and I could not have been more thrilled so here is the standing ovation that I should have given you.”
Joining MerseyGirls in the final will be Germany’s Got Talent winner Alexa Lauenburger and her dancing dogs, who earned their place after hosts Ant & Dec hit the golden buzzer.
They beat off competition from America’s Got Talent finalist Deadly Games, Italy’s Got Talent winner Antonio Sorgentone, Asia’s Got Talent finalists Gao and Liu and America’s Got Talent winner Paul Zerdin, as well as Britain’s Got Talent finalists 100 Voices Of Gospel.