After singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables for her audition round, she sang another show tune, "Memory" from Cats, for the live competition.

Eight acts are taking part every night in five semi-finals that began May 24 and are continuing on May 25-26 and May 28-29, with two contestants from each being selected to go forward to the grand finale: one by public vote, the other chosen by the judging panel of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, from the next two acts that garner the highest share of public votes.

On the inaugural semi-final, a ten-strong dance group called Diversity and a ten-year-old singer called Natalie Okri competed for the second place, and judges Cowell and Morgan chose Diversity, while Holden voted for Okri, which meant that Diversity is going forward to the final.

Boyle, now 48, told the show's hosts on live TV, "I really enjoyed myself, I enjoyed every second. I'd do it again!"

The winner of the finale will win a £100,000 cheque and the chance to appear before the Queen at the annual Royal Variety Show.