There is nothing like a dame – as eight of them proved by getting through to tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals.
At their audition, Dame Nation got a standing ovation from David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden and brought the audience to their feet with their performance of It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls.
And they have an idea who would make their perfect ninth dame.
“If there was even a chance we could get Simon Cowell in a frock and a pair of heels believe me we would all jump at it – but I think we’ve probably got more odds with David,” says lead panto dame Mama G, who was first on stage.
The group, made up of professional pantomime dames, was formed during the pandemic in late 2020. “Panto was cancelled and it was so horrible for a lot of us,” says Mama G – real name Robert Pearce.
“A few of us dames knew each other. We were having a Zoom call and I suggested going on BGT because I felt after everything that was going on people needed a laugh and some escapism.
“The others were initially nervous, but after discussions we all decided to go for it. I am fairly certain everyone is really glad we did.
“Since our audition so many people have got in touch to say how joyful it was and how much it lifted their spirits and that’s why panto is so important.”
According to Mama G, the most important thing a panto dame can do is “be truthful to the character”.
She adds: “Because you’re playing a mum role, you need everyone in the audience to understand that they are safe with you and that if there’s a problem they can go to you.
“You are also a naughty auntie, so you have to have a twinkle in your eye. Kids in the audience know you are the one a little bit badly behaved and they can get away with laughing at what you’re doing without getting into trouble.
“The dame is the heartbeat of the panto. She’s providing the comedy, the spectacle with her amazing outfits and she’s also the narrator, guiding the audience in terms of how they should feel.”
Mama G has been in pantos for 17 years, 15 as a dame. “A lot of dames start as an ugly sister,” she says. “That’s what I did. I’ve never looked back – since then it’s been dame all the way.”
Mama G has performed with celebrities including Keavy and Edele Lynch from pop group B*Witched in Robin Hood and late magician Paul Daniels.
Fellow Dame Nation member Bunny Galore, aka Martin Ramsdin, 51, has also shared the stage with big names.
Bunny first played a dame in 1998 in Mother Goose at Guildford in Surrey. She said: “I’ve been lucky enough to work with a few celebrities, including Gok Wan and Linda Lusardi. One standout was the late Lynda Bellingham. She’d help me get changed into costume and said it was tradition. She was usually Fairy Godmother to my Ugly Sister in Cinderella. I miss her a lot. Panto has brought a lot of lovely people and joy into my life.”
Dame Nation is the first group to bring pantomime to BGT.
“We were stunned panto had never been represented because it is such a beautiful encapsulation of British culture,” says Mama G.
Nic Gibney, 44, of Bristol, performs as Harmony Hard-up and has even won an award for his dame work.
“Auditioning for BGT was a brilliant idea,” says Harmony. “Listening to all the screaming people was crazy. It’s all going to be exciting whatever happens.”
Mama G adds: “Our performance tonight is us taking things up a notch.
“It’s going to be camper and much more spectacular. Our goal is to win. We want to perform at the Royal Variety Performance because what’s better than one queen? Eight others!”
Also in the semis are The Frontline Singers choir, eerie invisible act The Phantom, comedy act Titan the Robot, young dance outfit Five Star Boys, Mary P – a Mary Poppins-like singer, comedian Stefano Paolini and singer Loren Allred.
*The Britain’s Got Talent live semi-finals continue tonight at 8pm and each night this week on ITV.
