Claire Connolly has opened up on her troubled past after her amazing gesture on last night's Britain's Got Talent.
The mum from Liverpool stunned the judges on last night's show after she posed as a contestant so her daughter would come with her to the studio. Claire appeared on stage and revealed she was going to give up her audition so Tia could perform instead.
She said: "She's got me through some very hard times in my life. I feel like I owe her so I'm giving up me audition tonight for my daughter. This is my way of saying she's fabulous."
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Claire told Mirror Online that she has served time in prison and vowed to do everything in her power to ensure her daughter "doesn't make the same mistakes" she did. She said: "I did go to prison and that’s something I have to live with – the stigma follows me around. Of course I’m sorry. At the time I was angry… angry at life.."
She added: “I’ve tried to give my children the best chance – and I’m so proud that Tia is grabbing that chance with both hands.”
Claire was arrested in 2012 after cannabis was found in Celebrations tins at her home. The mum was later jailed for 12 months for allowing her home to be used to supply drugs, as well as a second charge of affray for assaulting a woman in a drunken fight while on bail.
But she told how being a mum to Tia and Ayannah, nine, changed everything. Claire said: “Going to prison made me realise I needed to get away from my old life. Now my children are my life – and I want Tia to get the chance to shine.”
Tia stunned the judges after her amazing rendition of Whitney Houston's I Didn't Know My Own Strength. She received four yeses to sail through to the next stage and viewers following the show on Twitter took to the social media platform and claimed a new star had been born.
Amy said: "Incredible performance from Tia, especially in the circumstances, with little preparation time"
Kirsty added: "#tia was brilliant and well done to her mum for giving her the chance"
Jillian commented: "Wow Tia what a performance she just killed it the voice was beautiful I absolutely loved it"
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