Superb Innova girls tipped to win ‘BGT’

Embargoed to 0001 Saturday April 26 ITV handout photo of the Innova Irish Dance Company on the ITV television programme Britain's Got Talent to be shown this Saturday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Saturday April 26, 2014. Photo credit should read: Thames TV/Syco/ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

The girls’ jaw dropping performance combining traditional Irish dance with contemporary music wowed the judges, who promptly put them through to the next round of the competition.

Judge and comic David Walliams told the local lassies: ‘I can’t wait to see what you do next.’

Their audition, which took place at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall back in January, wowed Mr Cowell who commented: “Oh my God, I’ve got to tell you I absolutely loved that. I really loved it. This is why I wanted to come to Belfast. It was terrific.”

The next stage of the competition will decide if the girls get to the semi finals - which will be a live television performance.

Steven Mulhern, who hosts ITV2 show ‘Britain’s Got More Talent’ has already tipped the girls as ‘strong contenders to win’ the show!

It’s been a whirlwind weekend for the girls. Their Twitter and Facebook accounts have gone into overdrive with messages of support from across the world.

On Monday, we spoke to Portstewart’s Kyra Archibald (20) and Catherine Lamont (23), dance teachers from the 70 strong company.

The pair were still trying to come back down to earth following Saturday’s television performance. Kyra, a student at Jordanstown, said that since the group’s formation, just over a year ago, things had ‘taken off so fast’.

“We decided amongst ourselves to do the audition, which took place in January, it was a great day, but we have been sworn to secrecy since then. We are just amazed by the response.”

Catherine Lamont, who has just completed a Masters in Law, told The Times that their little students, who range from just three years old, have been ‘buzzing’ since they saw their teachers on tv.

“On Saturday morning, the students were really buzzing ahead of the performance. Many of them were having parties to watch the show. We have quite a few pupils from Ballytober Primary School, they even opened their school on Saturday night to allow the pupils to watch the show.

“Things have been mental since Saturday, we just can’t believe it.”

Catherine revealed that they had no other contact with the judges after the audition, but that they got to meet show hosts Ant and Dec: “We all love Ant and Dec, to be honest I think we were more excited to meet them. They gave us a big hug, and they give great hugs.”

So are the girls thinking about the next stage of the competition? “We haven’t really had a chance to do anything, “joked Catherine.

“We’re basically just waiting to see now if we get through.

“If we get that call we’ll start preparing.”