Pudsey the dancing dog and his partner Ashleigh stole the show in the first semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent, with Simon Cowell hailing them the act he had been waiting for all his life.
The lovable pooch and his young owner got a standing ovation from the audience and the panel as they put in a spellbinding dance routine.
They topped the public vote to be the first to make it through to the live final and are now a top priced 7/2 with Stan James to win outright.
Cowell told the duo: “This is what I have been waiting for all my life. I have had a lot of dogs in my life but never one like this.”
Ashleigh, 17, from Northamptonshire said: “I promise me and Pudsey are going to come back and we’re going to blow you away.”
Welsh male choir Only Boys Aloud were also jubilant after their higher tally of votes took them through to the final when the judges were split between them and Manchester boy band The Mend.
They are a best price of 14/1 to sing their way to glory, with Charlotte and Jonathan – who perform in tonight’s semi-finals on ITV1 – the 11/4 favourites.