Manchester bomb survivor Hollie Booth performs Ariana Grande hit for Britain’s Got Talent audition
The judges said she was an inspiration
Last updated 14th Mar 2018
Hollie Booth, a teenager from South Yorkshire who survived the Manchester Arena bombing last year, has stunned the Britain's Got Talent judges. Over the weekend the teenager inspired others by returning to Manchester, and performed a medley of songs which included Ariana Grande's hit 'One Last Time'.
Hollie was at the Ariana Grande gig last year with her mum Claire, who was also injured and her aunt Kelly Brewster, who sadly died in the incident. Hollie, who only survived the bombing because her aunt shielded her from the blast, now uses a wheelchair after she suffered two broken legs in the incident.
Kelly was one of 22 people whose lives was tragically cut short on 22nd May 2017. The other victims were Alison Howe, Angelika Klis, Chloe Rutherford, Eilidh MacLeod, Elaine McIver, Georgina Callander, Jane Tweddle, John Atkinson, Liam Curry, Lisa Lees, Marcin Klis, Martyn Hett, Megan Hurley, Michelle Kiss, Nell Jones, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Saffie Roussos, Sorrell Leczkowski, Wendy Fawell, Courtney Boyle and Philip Tron.
Hollie was joined at the audition on stage by her friends who were wearing T-shirts with the Manchester Bee, they also borrowed wheelchairs from the Red Cross in support of their brave friend. On stage they danced to a medley of songs which started and ended with the now iconic song, sung by Ariana Grande on the night - 'One Last Time'.
Taking to the stage the 13-year-old told the judges, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams, "It’s always difficult coming to Manchester.
"This is the first time I’ve been anywhere that’s like an arena, it’s hard."
The group performed under the name Rise and received a standing ovation from the both the judges and audience, with Simon saying the teenager was "an inspiration".
He went on to say, “To get through what you went through and come here and turn a negative into a positive is incredible.
“You’ve come on and shown what you’re made of. This will inspire a lot of people. I salute you.”
Although the episode of Britain's Got Talent with Hollie's inspirational experience has yet to be aired, the dance school have posted a video of Hollie and her friends performing the routine late last year, which you can watch below.
ITV are yet to release an official air date for the show, but in previous years the series has started mid-April. For the seventh series running, the Britain's Got Talent judging panel will remain the same, with comedian David Walliams, singer Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden joining head judge Simon Cowell.
Britain's Got Talent will also be hosted by award winning duo Ant and Dec for the 12th series in a row.