Stacey Solomon has thrown her support behind a Britain's Got Talent act from Braunstone Community Primary School in Leicestershire, offering them an encouraging pep talk as they prepare for the live semi-finals. The school's 30 pupils initially performed All Things Bright And Beautiful on stage before being joined by 80 more students who flooded the stage and aisles for a freestyle dance to a mash-up of rave classics. Stacey, serving as a guest judge, was so captivated by their energy and joy that she pressed the golden buzzer, sending them straight through to the live semi-finals.
Stacey's Surprise Visit
Former head teacher Halil Tamugus, who appeared as Mr T during the audition and created the concept, shared details of Stacey's surprise visit to the school last week. He said: "Stacey's a good friend of ours now, we back her fully, and she backs us. She came into the school and gave us a little pep talk to believe in ourselves and give it our best shot, but to really enjoy it. The kids really bought into that." Halil admitted that when Stacey pressed the golden buzzer, it took him about 30 seconds longer than everyone else to process what had happened. "It was a complete shock. We weren't expecting it. The reason we went on the show was just to share and spread some joy," he added.
The Friday Dance Initiative
The act is an extension of the school's 'Friday Dance', a regular event that allows children to let loose at the end of the week. Halil, 47, believes other schools could benefit from similar initiatives, which the school has maintained since the Covid-19 pandemic. He explained: "I think people think I'm a bit nuts when I say it, but genuinely, I think this is one of the main drivers for our success. Last academic year, the school achieved assessments in line with or better than national averages across the board, in an area like Braunstone, which is deprived." He described how the dance began in the school library with children in bubbles craving connection, and after Covid, it became a全校 event that unified everyone. "Music's a leveller. Regardless of background, age, colour, or religion, music levels everything out. It gives us a sense of belonging, especially in a world that feels fractured," he said.
Underdogs with Big Dreams
The school enters the semi-finals as underdogs but dreams of making the final. For the first time, they will face Simon Cowell's judgment, as Stacey filled in for him during auditions. Halil admitted there is trepidation about Simon's reaction but said: "The kids are ready to get him involved and have a really good time. We want him to feel the energy." He added: "I tell people I don't want to go to the final because it's been intense, but it would mean the world to the kids. Their confidence and belief in themselves are off the charts. They're ready for rejection, but there's that tinge of hope—what if? They're dreaming things they never thought they could dream."
Teasing the Semi-Final Act
When asked about changes for the semi-finals, Halil teased: "We have had to adapt it slightly. There will probably be some silly string making an appearance, and we've got special guests involved in the dance as well. It's really exciting." Halil stepped down as head teacher last year but remains linked as an improvement advisor. The school, rated Good by Ofsted, surpassed the national average for the first time in 2025, with 82% of pupils achieving expected grades or above in maths, 80% in reading, and 79% in writing.
Britain's Got Talent continues tonight with the live semi-final at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
