When Beau Dermott walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage, she looked every bit like a nervous 12-year-old facing one of the biggest moments of her life.
Simon Cowell asked if she was nervous.
She admitted that she was.
Then came the question that immediately raised the stakes:
What are you going to sing?
Beau’s answer was “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.
It was an enormous choice.
The song is famous for its demanding vocals and huge final notes, and Simon’s expression suggested that he wasn’t completely convinced a shy 12-year-old was about to pull it off.
Then the music began.
The Shy Girl Suddenly Disappeared
For a moment, Beau stood quietly waiting for her entrance.
Then she started singing.
Almost immediately, the nervous little girl from the introduction seemed to transform.
Her voice sounded much bigger than the judges had expected.
She delivered the song with confidence, clarity and the kind of theatrical power normally associated with experienced musical performers.
Simon’s expression began to change.
Amanda Holden leaned forward.
And the audience quickly realized they were watching something very different from what Beau’s shy introduction had suggested.
The Song Kept Getting Bigger
“Defying Gravity” is not a song that stays small.
As it builds, the singer has to keep finding more power.
Beau did exactly that.
Each section grew stronger.
The audience reacted louder.
And by the time she reached the biggest notes, the entire performance had become a showcase for how much voice could come from someone only 12 years old.
The contrast was striking.
Before the song, Beau had looked uncertain.
During the song, she looked completely at home.
Even Simon Was on His Feet
By the end of the performance, the judges had seen enough.
The audience rose.
The judges joined them.
And Simon — who had initially appeared skeptical about the song choice — was now part of the standing ovation.
That change in reaction is one of the most satisfying parts of the audition.
Beau didn’t need to explain why she had chosen such a difficult song.
She simply sang it.
Amanda Reached for the Golden Buzzer
Then Amanda Holden made the moment even bigger.
She reached toward the judges’ desk and pressed the Golden Buzzer. 🌟
Gold confetti filled the stage as Beau tried to process what had just happened.
The Golden Buzzer sent the 12-year-old singer directly through to the live shows. ITV later included Beau’s audition among BGT’s standout Golden Buzzer moments.
For someone who had walked out looking nervous only minutes earlier, it was an extraordinary ending.
Her BGT Journey Continued
Beau didn’t stop at the audition.
She progressed to the live semifinals, where she topped the public vote and secured a place in the Grand Final.
In the final, Beau returned to the song that had started everything and performed “Defying Gravity” once again.
She received another standing ovation and ultimately finished fifth overall in the 2016 competition.
From Nervous Schoolgirl to Musical-Theatre Star
What makes Beau Dermott’s first audition so memorable isn’t simply that she could sing.
It is the transformation viewers see happen in real time.
She walks out nervous.
She names an extremely difficult song.
Simon looks doubtful.
Then she sings.
A few minutes later, the judges are standing and gold confetti is falling.
Sometimes the best talent-show auditions are the ones where expectations change completely before the song is even finished.
Beau did exactly that.
🎥 Watch Beau Dermott’s full audition below and see the moment this shy 12-year-old turned Simon’s doubt into a Golden Buzzer performance.
