IF you were Diversity, you’d have to feel a bit miffed. Last night, the dance troupe – and rightful winners of ITV1’s Britain’s Got Talent – should have been tripping the limelight fantastic and enjoying the undivided attention which normally comes as standard with a headline slot.
But as we waited for the curtain to come up at the Metro Radio Arena, there was only one question being asked in the bustling foyer. Would the YouTube phenomenon that is Susan Boyle – or SuBo as she has affectionately been labelled by her obsessive followers – be on board?
Ever since she left BGT judges Amanda Holden, Piers Morgan and godfather Simon Cowell agog – because she could belt out a show tune without looking like Elaine Paige – the 48-year-old Scot has been at the eye of a global media storm.
I doubt a day has gone by when a SuBo update has failed to appear somewhere… I mean just take a look at how much space I’ve devoted to her, and I think the frenzy which has been whipped up is more than a little ridiculous.
But you’ve got to give the people what they want, so I tried to get excited by the will-she, won’t-she wondering.
Statistically, it wasn’t looking good. We’ve been told she’s taking selected ‘rest days’ during the tour (like the two dates she missed in Manchester)… and the Newcastle date came after back-to-back Scottish performances.
The suspense didn't last though. Ant and Dec's tour substitute Stephen Mulhern immediately announced she was on the bill.
Way to keep the tension going, mate.
But at least it meant we could give Diversity the attention they deserved. They opened proceedings with what I think was one of their winning routines. If it wasn't, it could have been.
Twelve-year-old singing heartthrob Shaheen was up next and kept the crowd's younger quarter screaming.
Saxophonist Julian Smith followed and impressed me as little as he had in the final. If he played his saxophone while riding a unicycle, I could relate to the cheers.
Two Grand, the granddad and granddaughter singing duo have retained their cuteness, while 10-year-old Holly managed to avoid a repeat of her headline-grabbing live TV meltdown.
Diversity's dancing counterparts Flawless lived up to their name, while mini Justin Timberlake mover Aidan Davis was simply fantastic. You do wonder if anyone dares to venture on to the dance floor at his school disco. Other highlights included more from Flawless (featuring last year’s winner George Sampson) and a four tots BGT supergroup who won everyone over with a rendition of The Jackson Five’s I Want You Back.
But the biggest cheer of the night came when Susan Boyle took to the stage and delivered what was expected... a couple of nicely belted out showtunes while looking nothing like Elaine Paige.
