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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Hollyoaks' Lucy-Jo Hudson reveals personal link to BGT finalist Jamie as Corrie star also shares support

Lucy-Jo Hudson has pledged her support to one particular Britain's Got Talent act after he made it through to the final. Ventriloquist Jamie Leahey took to the Hammersmith Apollo stage on Monday night (May 30) in front of the judges, a live audience and millions watching at home.

He was hoping to impress with his act alongside chicken, Chuck, to make it through the ITV talent show's grand final on Sunday (June 5). And 13-year-old Jamie did just that and he received a standing ovation from the audience as well as all four judges - Amanda Holden, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon, and Simon Cowell - after his act.

The youngster delivered a comic routine in which he and his chicken puppet friend Chuck flirted with Alesha Dixon and briefly fell out before reuniting with a song. Amanda praised the act as £the comic relief we needed", admitting she was still recovering from previous act, The Witches, in which she had been made to touch a live rat.

READ MORE: ITV Britain's Got Talent hit with complaints over peformance - but not from a contestant

Jamie initially went head-to-head with 23-year-old magician Junwoo, for the second place in the BGT 2022 final but the judges' vote was split evenly between the pair. The decision was returned to the number of audience votes and it was revealed that the teen had scored more from viewers, joining Busker Maxwell Thorpe as the first acts through.

And Lucy-Jo, who plays Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks, is backing Jamie for the win. Taking to Instagram before and throughout Monday night's show, the actress pledged her support to the youngster, saying she was "proud" and that he "smashed it" encouraging people to vote.

Jamie made it through to the final alongside Chuck (Dymond/Thames/REX/Shutterstock)

She then videoed the moment Jamie found out his had landed a place in the final, writing on her Instagram Story: "Yeahhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Go @JamieLeahey01." She added: "So proud of you. Well done darling." But it was prior to the show airing that Lucy-Jo revealed her personal link to Jamie.

"Very proud of this young man!!!" the former Coronation Street star wrote alongside a 'Vote for Jamie' poster. " Our @jamieleahey01 has got a place in the semi-finals of @bgt, and he’s on tonight at 8pm!!! Please all get behind him, he’s such a gorgeous young man, both inside and out!"

"He works so hard, and is so dedicated. @lewis_devine1987 has taught Jamie for 4 years now and every year he has just got better and better, he’s such a talented young man and a sweetheart too. Lew has worked so hard with him on his act tonight I hope you all enjoy it! We’re so excited to watch you tonight @jamieleahey01."

Lucy showed her support (Lucy-Jo Hudson Instagram)

Lewis is Lucy's partner who is the owner of Devine Theatre Company as well as an impressionist and actor. The pair have been together for four years and share son, Carter together. Lucy-Joe is also mum to daughter Sienna, from her marriage to former Corrie co-star Alan Halsall.

But Lucy isn't the only soap star backing Jamie as fellow St Helen's lad Jude Riordan has been showing his support on social media. The 11-year-old actor, who plays Sam Blakeman in the ITV soap, was sharing posts about Jamie to his Instagram Story.

One said that he'd be watching alongside a fingers crossed emoji before celebrating him getting through to the final by sharing the news with a gif that says 'Let's Goooooo."

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