See the best of the West End on Britain’s Got Talent

The West End definitely has talent!

Sophie Thomas
Sophie Thomas

Britain's Got Talent is more than a television show. It's a cultural institution. The competition reality television series sees thousands of act vie for a spot on the Royal Variety Performance and a chance to win £250,000. Since Britain's Got Talent began in 2007, hundreds of acts have sung, danced, and entertained their way to the nation's heart. Over the years, the show's uncovered world-class talent on our shores — who can forget Susan Boyle singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables?

It's not always new talent that competes on the show. After all, performing at the Royal Variety Performance is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Occasionally, West End stars will take part in the show, and it helps celebrate the rich, diverse talent across our London theatres. Then, when the live episodes begin, West End shows often perform routines too. Keep your eyes peeled for West End performances during the 2022 BGT semi-finals.

The 2022 Britain's Got Talent semi-finals will include performances from Moulin Rouge! The Musical on 30 May, Back to the Future: The Musical on 31 May, and Sister Act on 5 June.

Catch up on the best of the West End on Britain’s Got Talent over the years, and then book your tickets to see the performers on stage.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Britain's Got Talent

Did you see Moulin Rouge! The Musical on TV? The company set the stage alight, opening the 2022 semifinals with a trademark Moulin Rouge! can-can. Then, before the results, audiences were treated to a live performance of "Backstage Romance" from Moulin Rouge! The Musical. "Backstage Romance" opens Act 2 of the show. Watch Moulin Rouge! The Musical perform here, and then book your tickets now.

Book Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets on London Theatre.

Welsh of the West End

In the 2022 series of Britain’s Got Talent, a musical theatre supergroup took to the stage to sing “From Now On” from The Greatest Showman. As well as appearing in West End and regional shows, they all share one thing in common: they’re all Welsh. In fact, their audition marked the first time they’d performed alongside one another in the flesh.

The Welsh of the West End members include: Glain Rhys, Jade Davies, Luke McCall, Mared Williams, Samantha Thomas, Siwan Henderson, Sophie Evans, Steffan Hughes, and Tom Hier. Watch Welsh of the West End sing on Britain's Got Talent here.

Tune in to Britain’s Got Talent 2022 episodes to see if Welsh of the West End win the competition.

Loren Allred

Continuing The Greatest Showman theme, Loren Allred blew the audience and judges away with her rendition of “Never Enough.” In fact, Allred earned a Golden Buzzer — an automatic pass to the semi-finals — from BGT judge Amanda Holden. Watch Loren Allred perform "Never Enough" here.

You may have heard Allred sing "Never Enough" before though. Allred sang the acclaimed ballad in the 2017 The Greatest Showman film, but she didn’t appear on screen. Now, Allred could win the world's biggest reality competition show with her breakthrough song! And with The Greatest Showman’s Keala Settle in the West End this summer, could Allred join her on stage one day? Time will tell.

Tune in to Britain’s Got Talent 2022 episodes to see if Loren Allred wins the competition.

Collabro

We've never doubted the sheer talent of West End performers. However, the West End was put firmly on the BGT map thanks to Collabro. The musical theatre supergroup, Collabro, won the 2014 series of Britain’s Got Talent by impressing the nation with their musical theatre takes. During the competition, they stunned the judges and audiences with “Stars” and “Bring Him Home”, both from Les Misérables. Watch Collabro sing "Stars" here.

The current Collabro group consists of four members: Michael Auger, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan, and Thomas J. Redgrave. They’ve released six albums to date and sung in prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Dean-John Wilson

Cast your minds back to 2008 and the second series of Britain's Got Talent. In the season that also gave us streetdancer George Sampson, we mustn't forget West End actor Dean-John Wilson as he reached the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals. Since then, his West End musical list includes Here Lies Love, From Here to Eternity, Miss Atomic Bomb, and The King and I.

In 2016, Wilson originated the title role in Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre, and you can read more about Wilson in Aladdin here. Or if you want to take a trip down memory lane, watch Wilson on Britain's Got Talent here.

Jonathan and Charlotte

2012 was a wonderful year for Britain, thanks to the London 2012 Olympics. That same year, a spectacular Britain's Got Talent series took place, notably down to Jonathan and Charlotte's unforgettable singing.

The incredible operatic duo stunned us all with their unexpected rendition of “The Prayer” during their Britain’s Got Talent audition. The pair placed second in their series, losing out to dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey. Watch Jonathan and Charlotte sing together here.

Since Britain’s Got Talent, Charlotte Jaconelli is now a West End actress, starring in Heathers at Theatre Royal Haymarket and Sweet Charity at the Donmar Warehouse. She’ll soon appear in Into the Woods at Theatre Royal Bath.

Rob King

Not all theatre stars are made on stage! In 2019, theatre worker and front of house usher Rob King stunned audiences with his rendition of Conchita Wurst's “Rise Like a Phoenix.” He eventually made the semi-finals, but was sadly eliminated. With a voice like his, maybe we’ll see him in a West End show one day! Watch Rob King sing here.

Christine Allado

In 2016, West End actress Christine Allado competed on Britain’s Got Talent as part of vocal harmony group, Zyrah Rose. After wowing in the auditions with Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire," they then gave a hardhitting performance of Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, Zyrah Rose didn't make the final. However there's no shortage of Allado in the West End. In recent years, she's led In the Heights, Hamilton and The Prince of Egypt to great successes.

Hairspray on Britain's Got Talent

Occasionally, West End musicals perform as part of the Britain’s Got Talent semi-final entertainment. In 2020, audiences were treated to a Hairspray medley, featuring the West End cast.

Head back to Baltimore with Lizzie Bea as Tracy Turnblad and Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad in this Hairspray video. And why not see Lizzie Bea on stage this summer? She's playing playing Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act at the Eventim Apollo. Book Sister Act tickets now.

Shrek the Musical on Britain's Got Talent

The Britain’s Got Talent judges don't just assess talent. They've got musical theatre chops too! In 2011, the Olivier-nominated actress and Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden played Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

So, when the 2011 BGT semifinals came around, Holden wowed the nation when leading the Shrek cast in "I'm A Believer." Who knows, maybe one day Amanda Holden will return to the West End?

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