Who is Father Ray Kelly? Britain’s Got Talent 2018 semi-finalist and singer who went viral back in 2014
BRITAIN'S Got Talent usually has a few Irish contestants give it their all to impress the judges.
This year, one talented man is standing out from the crowd on BGT and his name is Father Ray Kelly. Here's all we know about the priest from Ireland who you may have seen on the internet before...
Who is Father Ray Kelly and how old is he?
Father Ray Kelly is 64 years old and hails from Co Meath in Ireland.
The musically talented priest was urged to audition for the show this year by his loved ones.
Ray went viral back in 2014 after his wonderful rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah captured hearts across the Republic.
Despite appearing nervous on stage, the talented singer has had a record deal with Universal Music and has even released two albums.
Ray's experience in the music industry reaches as far as America where he produced a sell-out Hallelujah Tour.
He also recorded a ten-track album called Where I Belong, which went platinum with more than 40,000 sales and features his BGT audition track — and a 13-track Christmas album.
A source said: “Viewers were led to believe Father Ray was an amateur. But he’s a star in his own right. It seems producers are running out of talent so have turned to people who’ve already made it.”
He has made it to the semi-finals in London and is dreaming of reaching Sunday's final.
More BGT!
Who is on the BGT judging panel and are Ant and Dec hosting?
Simon Cowell leads the judging panel once again.
Last year's fellow judges - David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon - are all back too.
These judges have been in place for the past six series, with Amanda and Simon remaining constant throughout the entire eleven-series run.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have hosted the programme since its inception.
However, it seemed unlikely that Ant would return for the live shows this year after he was arrested for drink-driving on March 18 and subsequently charged.
Ant and Dec will still feature in the audition rounds which finished filming in February.