Singing priest Father Ray Kelly wowed the Britain’s Got Talent 2018 judges tonight.
But it wasn’t the first time his singing had seen him attract attention.
As the second round of this year’s auditions continued, we met Father Ray Kelly, a 64-year-old Parish Priest, from Oldcastle, Co. Meath in Ireland.
He said in the show: “I was singing at a wedding four years ago at home and it went viral on YouTube.
“The phone started ringing… you’ve got a thousand hits, two thousand hits… for a guy, 60 years of age, I didn’t know what was happening.”
In the end, Father Ray Kelly’s YouTube video – which you can watch above – notched up an impressive 60 MILLION hits.
The attention it brought saw Ray Kelly even release his own album of classic covers.
In tonight’s episode, Ray Kelly performed a touching cover of Everybody Hurts’ by R.E.M.
He said on the show: “I watch Britain’s Got Talent every year, I love the show. It offers you the opportunity to sing in front of the Royal Family.
“I’m hoping I get the BGT audience on my side tonight.”
He told the judges: “I thought I may be the first singing Priest to win Britain’s Got Talent.”
Ray revealed he chose the song because it was “near and dear” to his heart.
With four yeses, Ray Kelly is a step closer to singing for the queen.
More singing acts tonight included Jenny Darren, a 68-year-old retiree from Birmingham, living in the Cotswolds. Jenny sings ‘Highway to Hell’ by AC/DC.
Plus, Andras Lovas, a 46-year-old from Hungary, performed a unique style of improvised ‘heart singing’.
Other acts this weekend included ‘silent comic’ Lost Voice Guy and a moving performance from dance group RISE.
The group performed a dance with wheelchairs to help one of the members, Hollie Booth, get back into dancing following injuries she sustained during the Manchester terror attack in 2017.
As always, acts need three or more yeses to make it through to the next round and potentially on to the live shows.
Making up the judging panel this year once more are Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.
Meanwhile, hosts Ant and Dec will be present for the auditions, watching on from the sidelines with a comforting hug whatever the result.
Britain’s Got Talent 2018 airs Saturday nights on ITV.
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