Shaun Smith is second favourite to win Britain's Got Talent

Amanda Holden has described him as “big competition” for Susan Boyle, while Simon Cowell has labelled him the show’s “dark horse”, but can the 17-year-old singing sensation Shaun Smith really win this year’s Britain’s Got Talent? We caught up with the down-to-earth rugby fan to find out how whether he’s confident that he’s got what it takes to win the crown.

How nervous were you knowing that millions of people were about to watch you sing live on TV for the first time?
“Before the show, all that was going through my mind was the idea that one minute and 45 seconds could make or break me. Luckily, it went alright. But that was all that I could focus on in my mind and the nerves just kept building up and up. When I came onstage and saw the judges and dancers, I was petrified. When I got the first note out, I felt happier and knew it was going to be okay, so I was pretty much in my own bubble after that, as you can kind of tell when you watch it back.”

The judges had made some harsh comments to contestants before you. Did that concern you?
“I had seen their comments. Jamie Pugh, who I think is an amazing bloke and an amazing singer, when he got buzzed, that shocked me. I think he’s an amazing talent and I just wondered, ‘what are they going to do with me?’ And then there was Gareth, who I’m very good friends with now, he got buzzed. I think he’s just hilarious, so I really was concerned about what the judges would do with me. I was really, really nervous. But then I just thought, ‘If it goes t*ts up, it goes t*ts up. Go out and do your best’.”

You seem like quite a normal guy. Do you think that will prove a hindrance against some of the more unusual acts?
“That is a problem for me. Some people haven’t taken to me because I’m an X Factor candidate kinda guy. I’m a normal person, who can sing. With this competition, I don’t think that I stand out as much as some of other acts. I accept that I’m just normal and I’m just really surprised how far I’ve gone.”

You won’t be taking tips from DJ Talent to spice up your act then?
“Haha! I tell you what, that tune is amazing. That tune will be the Britain’s Got Talent theme tune next year. I’ll have that playing out of my car, it’s a fantastic tune isn’t it? I thought the semi-final version was amazing.”

Is your aim to sign a record contract with Simon Cowell after the show ends?
“Of course that’s my obvious goal. I would love a record contract. I really, really want to win this competition now. The further I’ve gone, the more I’ve wanted it. But at the same time, I’ve already achieved what I set out to achieve. I’ve sung in front of millions of people live on TV and I don’t think it gets much better than that. Not many people are lucky enough to get that opportunity. I am so over the moon about how it’s all going and the only way is up.”

The judges seemed surprised by your song choice. Why did you pick U2?
“The reason I chose U2 on Monday was to make it a complete change from the first round audition. A lot of people were looking at my first round video on YouTube and left comments about me being a one-trick-pony. They said that was the only song I could sing, or that I could only do one genre. So I wanted to proved that I could do something new, current and different. Anyone watching, whether it’s Simon Cowell or other record companies, will have seen that I’m versatile and can move around genres with my voice.”

Do you believe you have a realistic chance of beating Susan Boyle?
“I don’t think that you can pre-empt anything in this competition. Everyone is extremely, extremely talented. Shaheen could be the next Susan Boyle challenger, he’s an amazing talent and could go all the way. But you can’t predict how anything’s going to go. I might end up beating Susan Boyle, but you can’t say that’s whats going to happen.”

There appears to be a happy atmosphere on the show with all the contestants. Do you really all get on?
“This weekend, I have had possibly the best few days of my life. Simply because I’ve made so many great new friends. Peter Coghlan the drag act – he’s a great laugh and is so funny. He’s an amazing chap and I’ll tell you what… I thought his act was brilliant. It was magic. It was so funny. I was in bits backstage. Gareth is a really, really close friend now. No one here is in direct competition, which makes for a great atmosphere. There’s no spitefulness and I think that’s the great thing about this show. Everyone wants the best for everyone else.”

How are you dealing with your new female followers?
“I have a very soundproof way of dealing with females. I say, ‘I’m taken, but I have an entire rugby team of friends who are available’. They are more than happy to take the girls off my hands. My rugby team are loving all my press attention. They don’t like my singing, they just like the girls.”

Only 10 acts can make it through to the Grand Final.

Below is the full top 40 list of acts who will perform over the 5 LIVE Semi-Final’s – 8 acts will perform each night:

Aidan Davis – Dancer

Ben and Becky – Ballroom Dancers

Brit Chix – Rock Band

Callum Francis – Musical Theatre

Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator

DCD Seniors – Dance Troupe

Diversity – Street Dancers

DJ Talent – Rapper

Dream Bears- Comedy Dancers

Fabia Cerra – Burlesque Dancer

Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers

Flawless – Street Dancers

Floral High Notes – Flower Arranging and Opera Singing

Fred Bowers – Breakdancer

Gareth Oliver – Comedy Impersonator

Good Evans – Family Singing Group

Greg Pritchard – Male Soprano

Harmony – Musical Theatre

Hollie Steel – Singer/ Dancer

Hot Honeyz – Dancers

Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes – Dog Act

Jamie Pugh – Singer

Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer

Julian Smith – Saxophonist

Kay Oresanya – The Living Saxophone

Luke Clements – Juggler/ Street Performer

Mama Trish – Drag Act

Martin Machum – Guitarist

MD Showgroup – Dancers

Merlin Cadogan – Physical Performer

Natalie Okri – Singer

Nick Hell – Street Performer

Shaheen Jafargholi – Singer

Shaun Smith – Singer

Stavros Flatly – Comedy Dancers

Sue Son – Violinist

Sugarfree – Street Dancers

The Barrow Boys – Wheelbarrow Dancing

2 Grand – Singers.

Two acts from each of the live shows will go through to perform in the Final. The act with the highest number of public votes goes through to the final automatically, with the second and third-placed performers vying for the crucial judges’ choice

Tomorrow nights Semi-Final line up to perform is :

Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator

Diversity – Street Dancers

Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers

Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer

Natalie Okri – Singer

Nick Hell – Street Performer

Sue Son – Violinist

For the  people who dont live in the uk here is a link to watch Britain`s got Talent live just let media player open and enjoy the show

Shaun Smith is second favourite to win Britain's Got Talent

The 17-year-old is second favourite to win the reality TV show after impressing the judges with his version of Bill Withers’ hit Ain’t No Sunshine.

But he said he considered entering the X Factor, but decided against it as he felt he would not have had no chance against singers like Leona Lewis.

“I’d end up being one of the average ones. There’s no way I would have beaten people like Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke.”

Instead Mr Smith, from Lichfield, Staffs, said he chose Britain’s Got Talent as “a pop star has never won it”.

He told The Sun newspaper: “As a pop singer on Got Talent you sort of stand out a bit more than if you went on the X Factor.

“You might come on when the judges have just had to sit through a load of dancers or a magic act.

He continued: “People have always told me that I’m good but I wasn’t 100 per cent sure. To have Simon Cowell say I was great is a massive achievement.”

He also said he felt rival Susan Boyle might go on to win the contest, adding: “Susan is amazing. I met her a couple of times and she’s really sweet, and really funny.”

Shaun Smith

Piers Morgan has predicted that new Britain’s Got Talent singer Shaun Smith could win this year’s show.

The 17-year-old from Lichfield, Staffordshire, sang a version of the Bill Withers soul classic ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’, which won a standing ovation from the audience.

Judge Simon Cowell said: “You reminded me of Mick Hucknall – but good looking. And with a personality.”

Morgan wrote on his blog: “At at the end of the show came another young singer who I think has a genuinely good chance of winning this year.

“He’s got the looks, youth, and ‘cool’ factor that will get the ladies hitting their phones to vote. And as we saw with George Sampson last year, that can be a very powerful weapon.”

He added that despite Smith’s chances, ” Susan Boyle is still the one to beat, no question of that”.

On Saturday we will see 17 year old A-level student Shaun Smith from Litchfield Staffordshire take to the stage.

At school Shaun is a bit of a rugby star and plays three-four times a week but Shaun’s rugby mates have come along with him today to support his true passion, singing.

As Shaun explains “I have been singing for as long as I can remember I’ve done little things but I’ve never sung at anything this big before. It’s all very well and good my Gran saying I’m good but she’s a little biased, but it’s my mates that are the most important thing and that’s when I get nervous as they could rip me to shreds!”.

Shaun sings Ain’t No Sunshine for the Judges and very quickly a big smile spreads across all three Judges faces and the audience, and all of Shaun’s rugby mates, are on their feet.

Simon’s reaction to Shaun’s performance is “I genuinely wasn’t expecting that, you remind me of Mick Hucknall, but good looking. You’ve got a very authentic sounding voice”.

But Amanda has some words of criticism, “take your hands out your pockets and believe in yourself as your body language is saying I’m crap but your voice is saying you’re brilliant, believe in yourself”.

Will Shaun get a clean sweep of yes’s from the judges, and more importantly has Shaun made his mates proud?

shaunsmith

Student Shaun Smith has won comparisons to Mick Hucknall after wowing the Britain’s Got Talent judges with his audition.

The 17-year-old – who will be seen on Saturday’s show – only auditioned on the advice of his grandmother, but won raves from the panel.

“You remind me of Mick Hucknall ,” Simon Cowell told him, “but good-looking. You’ve got a very authentic sounding voice.”

However Amanda Holden had some constructive advice for the teenager after picking up on his body language. “Take your hands out your pockets and believe in yourself,” she said.

Shaun told the Sun, “I’ve been singing as long as I can remember but I’ve never sung at anything this big before.”

“My mates get me nervous as they could rip me to shreds.”

Other highlights of Saturday night’s show are set to include Merlin Cadogan, who warns the judges that his Houdini act could prove fatal, opera singing waiter Greg Pritchard and an act called Mr Methane – who appals the panel with his ‘windy’ rendition of the Blue Danube waltz.

“You are a disgusting creature,” Simon told him.