22 April 2023 , 09:00
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Britain's Got Talent has produced some incredible acts since first gracing our TV screens back in 2007, with Susan Boyle, Paul Potts and Ashley Banjo all having the ITV series to thank for their successful careers.
But some of the show's most memorable acts have come thanks to young acts juggling school alongside showcasing their talents on stage to Simon Cowell and his fellow judges.
From Connie Talbot capturing the nation's hearts at just six-years-old, to a teenage Michalakis 'Lagi' Andreas appearing alongside his father as one half of the duo Stavros Flatley, Britain's Got Talent's former young entries have proven the country certainly has no shortage of gifted young performers.
Following Ghetto Kids impressing new judge Bruno Tonioli so much he pushed the first Golden Buzzer of this year's series last weekend, we take a look at the other youngsters who have wowed on the Britain's Got Talent stage over the years and what they're up to these days.
Hollie Steel
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Hollie famously broke down in tears during one BGT performance (ITV)Hollie Steel is almost unrecognisable 14 years on from finishing in sixth place on Britain's Got Talent in 2009.
She won over Simon Cowell when she sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from Phantom of the Opera on stage at the tender age of 10.
Although in the semi-final the youngster forgot the words to her song and burst into tears during the live show - promoting Strictly Come Dancing presenter Bruce Forsyth to speak against children competing in the show.
"I don't think they should put children on that are too young. If you're going to do that, have a separate show. Have a children's show, British Children Have Talent," the late star told The Mail on Sunday.
Hollie is still working in the entertainment industry (Twitter)"To put little children through that kind of an ordeal, I think that is wrong. I think it was last year some poor little girl of about 11 was crying her eyes out on there. I don't think that's entertainment."
Hollie made the most of her stint on the ITV talent show and released her debut self-titled album one year on from finding fame on Britain's Got Talent.
In 2011, the young singer enjoyed a stint playing the role of Louisa von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's UK tour of The Sound Of Music, appearing in the show across the country from May to October.
These days 24-year-old Hollie still performs and most recently played the role of Frenchy from Grease in the Caribbean from 2018 until last summer.
George Sampson
George is one of BGT's most memorable winners (Publicity Picture)Street dancer George Sampson went all the and won Britain's Got Talent back in 2008 - one year on from failing to impress judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan and make it to the semi-finals in 2007.
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After winning the ITV show, George made his stage debut in the West End hip-hop musical Into the Hoods in August 2018 and went on to release his first single, Get Up On The Dance Floor/Headz Up, the same year.
The talented performer even branched out tried his hand at acting - landing a role in Waterloo Road in 2011, joining the cast Emmerdale as Ryan a few years later and enjoying cameos in shows like Casualty and Mount Pleasant.
George has had three hair transplants over recent years (Getty Images)
The star says Wayne Rooney inspired him to get the cosmetic procedure (Getty Images)But it was George's original talent that prompted him to get three hair transplants since 2017, after all the spinning he does on his head during break-dancing routines created a bald patch on his head.
He spent £9,000 on his first two operations and had his third one a couple of years ago.
Speaking to hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, he said in 2018: "I'm so happy. It's difficult. I still get hundreds of men messaging me about it.
"I felt like an old man with a babyface, I had to wake up and look in the mirror and think I hate my hairline."
Elsewhere in his personal life, George had to take his own mother to court in 2016 after she refused to leave the Warrington house he bought with his Britain's Got Talent prize money.
Connie Talbot
Connie captured the heart of the nation when she auditioned at tender age of six (ITV)Connie Talbot, now 22, impressed viewers and judges alike when auditioned at the age of six-years-old during the first ever series of Britain's Got Talent in 2007, where she ended up finishing in second place behind opera singer Paul Potts.
Birmingham-born Connie released her first album, named Over the Rainbow, six months after appearing on BGT in 2007. It sold 250,000 copies and the child star went on to release a Christmas album the following year.
The Britain's Got Talent finalist recently caught up with the ITV show's presenter's Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly during a chat on the radio with judge Amanda Holden.
The singer chatting on Heart FM earlier this year (thisisheart/twitter)"How are you doing Connie? Are you still performing?" Ant asked the singer during their on-air reunion in February this year.
Connie replied: "I’m good, really really good. I am, I’m an independent artist now and doing new music, got an EP coming up in April."
Amanda chimed in to say "that's exciting" before adding: "She’s got an absolutely stunning voice and you still look like you looked."
Ant added: "I wasn’t sure the show was ever going to work and then Connie turned up and other people like Paul Potts and we went “god we’ve got a show here!” Britain has Got Talent! At that point we all thought there was a question mark, Britain’s Got Talent?"
"I tell you what Connie, I’m thrilled you’re still singing!" Amanda's Heart FM co-host Jamie Theakston quipped when speaking to the young star.
Ronan Parke
Ronan wasn't even a teenager when he appeared on the ITV show (Ken McKay/Talkback Thames)
The star recalls being told to hide his sexuality because he had female fans (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)Ronan Parke was just 12-years-old when he shot to fame on Britain's Got Talent.
Looking like a mini Justin Bieber, the youngster had the judges standing on their feet when he a sensational rendition of 'Feeling Good' by Nina Simone.
Michael McIntyre joked that the lad didn't need to go back to school, while stand-in judge Louis Walsh said he was predicting really big things for the child star.
Ronan finished in second place during the 2011 series of Britain's Got Talent and was signed to Simon Cowell's label but dropped just one year on from his debut audition.
Ronan, who was recently spotted working in a London restaurant, spoke about his sexuality in an interview with Attitude Magazine back in 2019.
The former BGT star now works in a swanky restaurantThe one-time child star explained how he was encouraged to hide his homosexuality from the public eye while he was on Britain's Got Talent due to him having a large number of female fans.
He recalled: "I remember trying to come out to my parents: I was young - I can’t remember how old I was, around 7 or 8 - and I went downstairs to the lounge and stood in front of the TV and got the remote and went ‘Mummy, daddy, I have something to tell you!’
"And they just went ‘Yeah, yeah, we know, you’re gay’, and they just got the remote and unmuted the TV!
"I was like [dramatic gasp], ‘What?! But they just always knew. And after that, I just never had to [come out] to my friends. But I’ve always identified as a gay man and I’ve always been very proud to say it."
Lagi Andreas
Everyone loved Stavros Flatley (Ken McKay/Rex Features)Michalakis 'Lagi' Andreas was just 13-years-old when he auditioned for Britain's Got Talent in 2009alongside his father as the duo Stavros Flatley.
The father-and-son duo finished up in fourth place that series, behind runner-up Susan Boyle and the winning act, dance troupe Diversity.
These days, Lagi is a father himself, after welcoming a baby into the world with his partner Annika Crawford in March year.
The happy couple tied the knot in Cyprus in an idyllic ceremony by the sea in September the same year.
The former child star is now a married man (Nick & Aimie Wild - Beziique/Katie at Marry Me Cyprus)"Thank you to every single person that made this night so special," Lagi penned on Instagram as he shared snaps from his fairytale wedding.
"All our brides and grooms men, and everyone else who done everything they could for us! We love you all."
Jack Carroll
Comedy fans will know Jack Carroll has gone on to become a successful comedic actor since his stint on Britain's Got Talent in 2013 at the age of 14.
Before he even appeared on the ITV talent show, comedian Jason Manford saw a video of him performing at his parent's wedding anniversary and invited Jack, then 12, to give a short performance at one of his live shows.
During his time on Britain's Got Talent, judges voted him through and he even made it to the semi-finals.
Jack made a big impression on the Britain's Got Talent judges back in 2013Jack, who won a Pride of Britain award, in 2012 has established himself as an actor and comedian since his time on Britain's Got Talent, appearing in TV shows like Sky One series Trollied, Doctors, Father Brown and BBC sitcom Big School.
In 2019, Jack starred alongside Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing) and Johnny Vegas in the comedy film Eaten by Lions.
Two years later, Jack proved he can do it all, as he made his theatre debut in Cured - a play about a religious pilgrimage.
He played a teenage Scouse atheist with a disability, who feigns Catholicism and joins a Church trip to France to try and get closer with a girl he likes.
Jack, who has cerebral palsy, has also continued to perform on stage as a standup comedian - taking past tours to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Jack is still performing on stage and making appearances on TV (INSTAGRAM)Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi is now perhaps best known for his stint as a soap star rather than his appearance on Britain's Got Talent in 2008.
Aged 10, he sang Who’s Lovin’ You, by the Jackson 5 on the famous stage and left Simon Cowell stunned.
Then, when he was just 12 years old, Shaheen was invited to sing at Michael Jackson’s memorial service, following the death of the Jackson 5 singer in June 2009.
The star-studded event, held in the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, was watched by a global audience of billions and featured tributes from MJ’s celebrity friends and fans including Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey and Stevie Wonder.
Shaheen felt he could 'do whatever he wants to do' after performing at the funeralShaheen recalled: "When I was walking I wasn't thinking about anything other than the way to get there.
"So I just walked out and did it. When I opened my mouth to sing, I was fine. When I sing I go into a totally different world. I feel invincible.
"I feel nobody can touch me and I can do whatever I want to do. It wasn't until I'd finished that I realised what I'd just done."
From 2016 to 2018, the Welsh-Iranian star appeared on EastEnders as Shakil Kazemi, a schoolboy who was stabbed to death in a knife-crime storyline.
His onscreen mother, Carmel (Bonnie Langford) and elder brother Kush (Davood Ghadami) were left devastated by his death. He then appeared as staff nurse Marty Kirkby in another hit BBC drama, Casualty.
The former BGT finalist during his EastEnders stint (BBC / Jack Barnes)Aidan Davis
Britain's Got Talent (BGT) star Aiden Davis has recently welcomed his first baby into the world and looks completely different from street dancing days.
The new dad was just 12 years old when he featured on BGT back in 2009 and wowed judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan when he performed as a street dancer.
He won high praise from the judges – with Amanda stating he “blew her away” with his dance performance.
Head judge Simon gushed at the time: "I think you're better than any dancer on this show, you are super, super, super talented."
Aidan looks very different to how we first met him in 2009 (Rex)
The former dancer now updates fans on his music and gym progress online (charlilui/Instagram)Aiden made it all the way to the finals where he was one of the runners-up behind eventual winners Diversity – and also competed in the same shows as BGT icon Susan Boyle.
Now, 14 years on, the TV star has welcomed a baby with partner Courtney and has a brand new look.
Aiden hasn't posted on Instagram since November 2021 but used to share regular photos and videos of himself at the gym- with scenes showing him squatting, lifting, and pushing weights.
Aiden's last post saw him show of his new haircut and full beard, writing in the caption: "So fresh and so clean."
He has previously shown off his collection of tattoos, including a huge skull on his back, and a vibrant, floral design.
Charlie Wernham
Cheeky Charlie wowed the judges with his joked back in 2007 (Talkback Thames)
The young performer has been popping up on TV shows ever since finding fame on the ITV show (Ken McKay/ Rex Features)Charlie Wernham is another Britain's Got Talent alum who has gone on to enjoy a stint on EastEnders.
The 28-year-old took part in the competition series in 2008 where he impressed viewers with his stand-up comedy routine and amused the nation with his cheeky quips.
At the time, judge Simon said: "We've had some rotten comedians on this show, but you're the only one who's made me laugh and told jokes that I could understand."
Charlie made it all the way to the semi-finals, with the second series of Britain's Got Talent won by street dancer George Sampson.
Charlie's soap stint wasn't his first time on a popular TV show (BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)In October 2021, it was announced that the former child comic had joined the soap as Aaron Monroe, who is the brother of Bobby Beale’s girlfriend Dana and the son of dubious taxi driver Harvey Monroe.
Before popping up on the BBC soap, Charlie appeared as Robbie Roscoe on Hollyoaks from 2013 until 2016.
But Charlie is probably best known for his role alongside Jack Whitehall in Bad Education, playing Mitchell between 2012 and 2014 and reprising his role for the movie.
He previously admitted he would never leave Mitchell behind as he will "always be as rude and immature" as his character.
"I will miss the cast, the crew and obviously playing Mitchell. I don't think I will ever get to work on a show like Bad Education again," he wrote in a blog post as he bid farewell to his character.