LMA are flying the flag for Liverpool in tonight’s grand final
LMA are hoping to “blow people away” with their final routine(Image: LMA)
LMA said “this is our moment” ahead of tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent grand final. LMA, which stands for Liverpool Media Academy, has taken centre stage on the ITV talent show with two jaw-dropping dance routines. This weekend, 66 dancers will take to the stage for the third and final time with a chance to win the show.
A spectacular 17th series of Britain’s Got Talent has aired over the last few months. Viewers have tuned in every Saturday to watch hundreds of hopeful contestants eager to make it to the final stage in Britain’s biggest talent competition.
Ant and Dec will return to welcome the ten finalists onto the stage for their final performance tonight. They’ll be in with a chance of winning a £250,000 cash prize, as well as the opportunity to perform at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.
It’s looking to be a spectacular night of entertainment, which kicks off on ITV1 at 7pm. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI will take their seats on the judging panel before the finalists will perform.
One act hoping to take home the title is LMA. The dance act from Liverpool impressed the judges with their incredible first audition, with a routine choreographed by internationally renowned artist Sadeck Berrabah.
LMA impressed the judges with their incredible first audition(Image: ITV)
Their immaculate synchronisation took viewers by surprise, offering something completely new and unique. The success didn’t stop there, as LMA were given an immediate place in the grand final after receiving a golden buzzer from Alesha Dixon in the semi-final three weeks ago.
In an exclusive interview with the ECHO, Richard Wallace, co-founder of LMA, has shared what it would mean to them to win the show. Fans can expect to be “blown away” with another extraordinary performance from the dancers, who are based in the Metquarter, on Saturday night.
Speaking about earning a place in the final, Richard, 49, from Crosby said it feels like a “pinch me moment”.
He told the ECHO: “It’s a pinch yourself moment. It’s absolutely incredible. You know the hard work, the effort, the attention that’s gone in. It’s about nine months of work purely focussed on BGT. We feel very prepared but you still stop and go ‘I actually can’t believe we’re in the final’.
“After 19 years of watching Britain’s Got Talent on TV, there’s been so many artists and different types of acts go on and this is our moment now, it’s quite incredible.
“It validates that we produce quality, world-class training. When it’s something in the public eye like this, it gives us that official stamp that we are developing the talent of the future.”
Alesha Dixon gave LMA a golden buzzer in the semi-final(Image: ITV)
LMA hoped to create something new and unique for Britain’s Got Talent, and it’s fair to say they did exactly that. Their routines have been intentionally created without any soloists, instead focussing on collaboration, unity and storytelling.
The dancers, aged between 18 and 21, have been committed to long days in the training room to prepare for the final – which is set to “blow people away”.
Richard said: “The risk that we took was definitely a risk worth taking. It makes the process incredibly intense because there’s so much detail to it, down to the millimetre. Against the intensity, the reward is definitely worth it because I believe what we produced was great, and I believe we surpassed that with the semi-final production.”
Teasing what viewers can expect from the final performance, the group’s co-founder said: “Without revealing too much, what we’ve got prepared for the final will blow people away.
“We’ve pushed the boundaries even further. I didn’t think it was possible but we’ve worked even harder on it. We’ve literally been doing 16-hour days of rehearsals.
LMA are incredibly proud to represent Liverpool in the final(Image: LMA )
“The focus and commitment has been incredible, the dancers have blocked out the outside world and the sunshine, missing out on going out with friends to barbeques, and just locking in and being in the studio.”
After months of hard work, LMA now need the people of Liverpool to get behind them.
Richard told the ECHO: “It’s more than a three minute performance. It’s months of commitment, months of hard work, sacrifice, and self-development, not just as a dancer. They’ve done themselves and their families incredibly proud.”
He added: “We’ve had loads of nice messages on social media from people saying we made Liverpool proud and how talented the dancers are. All of that support is fantastic- but more importantly we need their votes!”
Speaking about the dancers representing their home city in the final, he said: “They’re all so proud to represent Liverpool because they know the city has a reputation of getting behind its people. I think it adds that extra layer of drive to push you on.
“They don’t want to let anyone down. They know the responsibility they’re carrying. They’re ready for it and they’re super excited.”
Britain’s Got Talent: Live Final airs at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX