Inspirational Hollie Booth was injured in the 2017 suicide bombing that killed 22 people and injured countless fans at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester
BRITAIN'S Got Talent viewers were brought to tears tonight by a survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing's audition.
Teenager Hollie Booth left fans and BGT host Ant McPartlin in tears tonight in one of the most emotional performances in the show's history.
Nearly 12 months after the attack which claimed 22 lives, including that of her beloved aunt, 13-year-old Hollie returns to the city to fulfil her dream of being a dancer.
But her injuries from the blast mean she has to perform her routine in a wheelchair, which reduced viewers, Ant, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges to tears.
Viewers flocked to social media to share their emotions at the scenes.
One said: " What a fantastic young lady and what wonderful and supportive friends she has. I’m so moved, that was incredible."
A second tweeted: "This is lovely. I lost my cousin to the attack and this is just so heartwarming to watch. Such bravery, well done girls #BGT";
Another added: "watching bgt i’m in tears."
Mum Claire, 35, who was also injured in the attack, said: “All she wanted to know after it happened was when she was going to be able to dance. The doctors told us it was uncertain whether she ever would.
“They didn’t know to what extent she would be able to walk.
“She’s got nerve damage too which is why it’s so difficult, but straight away she was adamant she would dance again. I didn’t think I would ever see it.”
Hollie, from Sheffield, forms part of dance troupe Rise, made up of performers aged between ten and 24.
She had danced with the group for years before the blast.
And the whole group performed with wheelchairs in a show of solidarity with their friend, who despite her injuries does “rise” to her feet briefly in a moving highlight.
The soundtrack is Ariana’s hit single One Last Time, which became synonymous with the May 22 attack.
And they all wear T-shirts bearing the image of the Manchester worker bee, a symbol of the city.
Judge Alesha Dixon described the audition as “bigger than the show” while Simon said: “It was one of those moments I will never ever forget.”
Hollie, who filmed the performance at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre in February, suffered catastrophic injuries in the terror blast, sustaining internal injuries, severe nerve damage and breaking her knee, leg and foot.
After 11 operations, she is still unable to walk without a splint and faces more agonising surgery in the future.
But the schoolgirl said: “I wanted to do it to help inspire other people.
“It was nice to have the other girls with me. We learned the routine in two weeks but we’d been dancing using the wheelchairs since before Christmas.”
She added: “I remember being backstage and I was so nervous that I didn’t want anyone to speak to me.”
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