'Simon Cowell's comments were unbelievable' - Britain's Got Talent Irish dance act Innova on 'terrific' audition

Millions of telly viewers saw the Portstewart-based Innova Irish Dance Company capture the heart of the notoriously hard to please Britain’s Got Talent judge last night.

Their magnificent mixture of traditional Irish dancing with a rap and hip-hop pop twist had Cowell and fellow judges, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Wallliams on their feet too.

Dixon — no stranger to dance thanks to her Strictly Come Dancing winning past — called the 15 strong troupe “special”.

Amanda Holden was in raptures too saying: “This was with a twist and it completely and utterly worked. Congratulations. It was a brilliant audition.”

Comedian David Walliams added: “I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

But it was the BGT boss’s glowing words for Innova’s stunning audition at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall which led them a merry dance and left them in tears of happiness.

Said an ecstatic Cowell: “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.”

Speaking about Simon’s amazing reaction, Innova dance teacher Kyra Archibald revealed: “Mr Cowell is always the one you want to please.

“I honestly think the majority of us just broke down in tears as soon as he said that.

“It was unbelievable. The man is just a legend and for him to say that about us was unreal.”

They also put a huge smile on the face of the show’s resident Mr Nasty when they included a funny ‘Oh Simon’ sample from rap star Labrinth’s hit single Earthquake during their audition.

Said Innova teacher, Catherine Lamont: “We always try to pick music that is clever and has a bit of significance. So whenever that song came out, we thought that it would be good for us here as it actually makes reference to Simon Cowell.”

And 20-year old Kyra who hails from the Articlave area of Coleraine admitted with a laugh that she had also been keen to shine for two other male BGT stars. “Of course we wanted to impress Ant and Dec as well. We just all love them to pieces,” added the second year University of Ulster criminology student.

After watching last night’s show together, the girls are now putting their ‘thinking caps’ and dancing shoes on — to dream up a fantastic follow-up to last night’s awesome audition.

Said Queen’s University history degree holder and Masters in Law graduate, Catherine: “We will definitely have to sit down and have a good think about what to do next. The audience enjoyed the modern aspect to it. So I don’t know if we would be straying too far from that. “We have more in store,” added the 23-year-old with a laugh.

But one man who didn’t get the Britain’s Got Talent judges laughing was aspiring comedy impressionist — Holywood man Gary James.

The 33-year-old electronic engineer was buzzed within seconds of his Only Fools and Horses Del Boy impersonation by a clearly unimpressed Simon Cowell. The fellow judges soon followed suit.