Britain’s Got Talent can be a golden ticket to TV fame, and some celebs have proved it.
The ITV talent show first aired in 2007 and has catapulted the likes of Paul Potts, Susan Boyle and Diversity into stardom. Simon Cowell’s talent staple, which has returned with a new series, has seen incredible talent step onto the stage.
But there are soap stars and other celebs who actually got their break on the programme. Just like everyone else, they had to audition for the chance to bag a spot in the Royal Variety Show.
READ MORE: Lottie Moss turns up the heat as she pours killer curves into tiny black bikini
READ MORE: Click for more brilliant Daily Star showbiz stories
The likes of EastEnders star Molly Rainford showcased their incredible talent. Here are the famous faces you might have forgot auditioned for the series.
Megan McKenna
With Essex charm and a bright pink outfit, TOWIE star Megan McKenna stepped onto the BGT stage in 2009, and had Simon Cowell laughing from the start. The reality TV icon entered the show at 16 years of age, with her friend Demi, as part of the girl group, ‘Harmony’.
But, while the judges initially didn’t take them too seriously, once they started singing, everything changed. The pair showed off their impressive vocals, winning the heart of Amanda Holden, who fought for them when Simon claimed to have not liked the song.
(Image: Ken McKay)
They even won over Piers Morgan, who said: “You make me smile.” The girls eventually made it to the live-semi-finals, where they were eventually eliminated.
Megan McKenna returned to TV Ex on the Beach for some explosive episodes. She later bagged a slot on The Only Way is Essex, which she used to push her dreams of becoming a country artist.
Jeremy Lynch
Growing up, all Jeremy Lynch ever dreamed of was playing for Arsenal. Alas, at the age of 15, ‘The Gunners’ let him go, forcing the teen to evaluate his options. Determined to never give up, he made the switch to freestyle, quickly exhibiting remarkable skills.
By the age of 20, he felt he was ready to take his talent to the next level, and in 2008 he faced the toughest talent shows judges in the business. With swagger and confidence, Jeremy shot down Amanda Holden, who feared his act wouldn’t be entertaining, replying, “Just watch me.”
The athlete proceeded to dazzle the crowd, earning a standing ovation. However, after such a strong showing, the pressure got the better of him in the semi-final, with the freestyler dropping the ball twice.
But while the disaster would’ve gotten the better of many a man, like he has in the past, Jeremy dusted himself down, and bounced back with a bang. He now has a whopping 11.7 million YouTube subscribers.
Shaheen Jafargholi
When a 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi waltzed up on stage in 2009, singing Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse’s ‘Valerie’, he instantly won over the crowd. However, Simon wasn’t as keen.
Battling his nerves, the young Welshman opted to sing ‘Who’s Loving You’? by Michael Jackson. Overcoming the adversity placed in his way, the talented singer smashed his second chance, producing vocals of an artist far beyond his years.
After one sensational performance came another, and Shaheen eventually made his way to the final. And while he didn’t win, he refused to wave goodbye to his show business ambitions. In 2016, he bagged the role of Shakil Kazemi in EastEnders, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Molly Rainford
It’s easy to forget that EastEnders star and Strictly finalist Molly Rainford made her TV debut on the talent show. When a timid 11-year-old Molly Rainford walked on stage to face the panel, no one could’ve known the talent she possessed.
After a mesmerising performance, Alisha Dixon, beamed: “You blew me away,” as Simon added, “I like you because you’ve got soul.” The singer walked all the way to the final, where, after a great performance, she just fell short of claiming the ultimate prize.
(Image: Ken McKay/Thames/REX/Shutterstock)
However, in the years since, she’s continued to make a name for herself, appearing as Anna Knight in EastEnders. And if that wasn’t enough, she proved she can dance as well as sing, when she made it to the final of Strictly Come Dancing alongside Carlos Gu.
Charlie Wernham
(Image: BBC / Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Charlie can now be seen as Robbie on Hollyoaks, and you might have caught him as Aaron on EastEnders back in 2021. But he, too, auditioned for Simon’s programme.
With a strong Essex accent, a 13-year-old Charlie had the audience laughing off the bat, telling the world that he entered the show because his Nan thinks he’s a ‘funny guy’. After cracking jokes about 10ft bugs and steering wheels getting stuck down someone’s pants, the young teen bagged his spot in the semi-finals.
Sadly, he failed to make it to the grand finale, but that didn’t stop his budding comedy career. He iconically appeared on The Inbetweeners, battering Simon Cooper at an under-18’s disco, before later cracking more jokes in Bad Education.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
