Eleven-year-old Olivia Lynes’ journey to the Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) stage began with a secret operation orchestrated by judge Amanda Holden. Olivia believed she was simply going to see the musical Matilda, but Amanda surprised her with an invitation to audition, revealing that her mum and nan had secretly written in about her amazing singing voice. Although initially overcome with nerves—which Amanda helped her shake off with a silly dance—Olivia’s dream of performing on a West End stage was now suddenly within reach, setting up one of the most heartwarming surprises of the season.
For her audition, Olivia chose to sing “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked, a song renowned for its immense vocal power and emotional range. The moment she opened her mouth, the initial nervousness vanished, replaced by a stage presence and vocal maturity that utterly defied her age. She hit every soaring note with incredible control and passion, delivering a performance that was professional, deeply felt, and truly deserving of the standing ovation it received. She didn’t just sing the song; she embodied the emotional journey of the character, moving the audience and judges with her performance.
The judges were left completely speechless by the sheer force and beauty of her voice. Bruno Tonioli, known for his dramatic reactions, was practically overcome, declaring that the talent “just flows and pours out of you” and calling Olivia a “singing miracle.” Amanda Holden was so profoundly moved by the combination of the surprise setup and the flawless performance that she reached for the biggest prize: the Golden Buzzer. With gold confetti raining down, Amanda celebrated the young girl, saying she “truly deserved that moment,” securing Olivia an instant, magical pass straight through to the live semi-finals.
