Nervous Britain’s Got Talent contestant Sian Pattison, 31, told judge Simon Cowell that she hadn’t auditioned until now because she was “really scared” of singing in front of an audience.
But it’s since been revealed that she has 15 years’ experience, having trained at the London College of Music and the Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music. Her work has included playing Anna-Frid in a UK tour of Strictly ABBA and being a lead vocalist in the Rugby World Cup UK tour.
“The @BGT con continues,” wrote one angry viewer. “Sian Pattison is an accomplished singer! Why dupe the public to think otherwise??”
“I guessed this was a put up job,” wrote another.
Another BGT viewer added: “Typical Britain’s Got Talent is just fake, pre-picked contestants.”
Read more: BGT star reveals he witnessed brutal murder
Mum-of-three Sian looked anxious as she stood on stage. “I didn’t put myself here, my daughter actually applied on my behalf,” she told Simon.
The accounts manager from Nuneaton started singing Beyonce’s Ave Maria, before Simon held up his hand to stop the song.
“Right, okay Sian, it was so jolly and happy and horrible that it wasn’t emotional,” he said.
Read more: BGT could be changing the live show format
She then went to sing With You from the musical Ghost, but had to restart after she fluffed the first line. When she eventually started singing, her performance won her four yeses and a standing ovation.
There were tears from both Sian and the audience. “Thank you so much for your support, that was lovely,” she told the crowd.
Simon said she performed the second song better because she wasn’t so prepared for it and was more relaxed. While David Walliams said it was like “watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly.”
Her daughter then rushed on stage to congratulate her.
Other viewers shared praise on Twitter. “Sian has an awesome voice,” wrote one.