Standing ovation for singer whose mum wrote to Simon Cowell begging for an audition

Sue Moretta told how her mother Margaret Smith passed away from dementia four years ago at the age of 83.

But following the loss, Sue later found a letter Margaret had written to BGT supremo Cowell but had never posted, asking him to hear her daughter sing. 

Sue, 58, had begged her mother not to send the letter at the time but when she discovered it again when clearing out her mother’s things, she decided it was the right time to audition for the show and sing in front of Cowell, satisfying her mother’s wish. 

And during a storming performance featured on tonight’s show, she gets the entire audience on their feet – and the judges on their desk, with David Walliams even dropping his trousers.

“I had decided to pack in singing after 40 years when I was still trying to get my break, but then I found the letter and decided to have a go. And now I have achieved my goal of singing in front of Simon Cowell and my Mum would be turning cartwheels if she could have seen it,” she said.

Viewers will see Sue, from Lancashire, go on stage as the final auditionee of the BGT Judge Tour in Manchester, before wowing everyone in the auditorium as she performs Don’t Rain On My Parade. 

So good was the performance that all of the judges and the audience were soon up dancing.

But Sue was forced to maintain her composure when judges Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon all climbed onto the judges’ desk to dance – with David even pulling down his trousers down for a gag, much to the audience’s delight.

“Simon didn’t know where to look when David pulled down his trousers. I was trying to finish my song and concentrate but I think Simon had his hand over his eyes,” she added.

“I didn’t look, I just tried to get on with the job at hand. The reason I gave it one more shot was purely for my Mum. Dementia is such a huge thing for so many people. And this was my last chance.”

The judges commended her on carrying on performing through the increasingly raucous unfolding scenes, but viewers will have to wait until tonight’s show to see if she gets through to the next round.

Sue has been singing for 40 years in bands and duos on the club circuit of the North West. She now teaches singing and performs locals concerts, 60s gigs and at funerals.

She said when late mother Margaret had been able to remember very little, she was still able to join in with Sue singing Dame Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again.

After seeing how music can help those suffering with dementia, Sue has since spent time singing in nursing homes for patients suffering with the disease.

Britain’s Got Talent is on ITV tonight at 8pm.