Britain's Got Talent gig was 'scariest experience'

A band whose Britain's Got Talent (BGT) audition won rave reviews has thanked the ITV show audience for helping them to overcome their nerves.

Bournemouth-based SOS were praised in the press and on social media for their cover of Backstreet Boys' Everybody, which aired on 28 February.

"You blew everyone here away," judge KSI told them, while lead judge Simon Cowell made the deflating suggestion that they should become a covers band.

Speaking to BBC Introducing, singer JV said appearing on the show was "one of the scariest experiences of our joint lives" but also a "childhood dream", insisting they would stick to making original music.

The pop-rock band, formerly known as Saints Of Sin, features Marcus "Sparxx" Jenkins on guitar and his brother Ash Jenkins on bass.

They attended Highcliffe School in Dorset with drummer Josh Rose.

Singer Josh "JV" Vaughan, who joined the band in 2022, said: "We couldn't actually see the audience because they were blacked out.

"All you can see is the daunting judges' table with all the Xs there. But the energy from the crowd when we got on the stage really helped."

Sparxx said: "Once we got up there and we saw that audience response everything just locked into place.

"We were so nervous all day and then it was go time and the audience just really helped us get into that."

The band won over all four BGT judges, earning a place in the Deliberation Day round where about 40 acts are chosen for the semi-finals.

"We're going to keep making our own music," JV told BBC Introducing, which showcases emerging artists on BBC radio.

"Simon Cowell - he can have whatever story - we think he's trying to run a narrative there potentially.

"We're not going to let him tell us what to do."