Jessica Barker, aged 14, from commercial dance group Hex, said: "We all go to the Angela Beardmore School of Dance in Sneyd Green so we are used to performing, but it's still nerve-wracking in front of the judges. We're pleased with how it went."

Norman Tudor, aged 71, from Cheadle, who sang I Dreamed A Dream from musical Les Miserables, said: "I've been singing for 40 years and my goal has been to get to the final of the competition. I feel pretty good about my performance, all three judges gave me good remarks."

Denise Moores, aged 50, from the Blurton-based Masque Theatre Company, said: "We've come to enjoy ourselves and for the experience, it's not the winning but the taking part that matters to us. It has been amazing."

Karen Madejski, aged 44, from May Bank, who sang You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Dusty Springfield, said: "It's absolutely fantastic performing on stage in front of all those people. It was the best experience I've had since I got married 13 years ago."

Chelsie Tyrrell, aged 15, from Kidsgrove, who played piano and sang Coldplay's Fix You, said: "I love performing. You are nervous before you go on but once you start you don't want to stop. My ultimate goal is to make performing my career."

Ashlie Scarlett, aged 13, from dance group Dolly Mix, said: "We all dance at Studio One in Longton and we have been rehearsing every night to get the routine ready. We're really happy with how it went, we all danced really well. It's the best feeling ever performing on stage."

Jack Eagles, aged 14, from Chesterton, who sang Rule The World by Take That, said: "I've auditioned before and I think in previous years I was too young to be confident on stage, which I have improved on now. It was nerve-wracking but once I start singing I love being on stage."

Blake Greenwell, aged 26, from Tunstall, who performed Vanilla Ice's rap Ice Ice Baby, said: "I've been rapping for eight years. I started off singing but I couldn't reach the high notes, but I found I was good at rapping. I write my own stuff which isn't easy."

Meghan Rowe, aged 10, from Stafford, who sang Tomorrow from musical Annie, said: "I have always sung, I love it. I like watching Annie and I chose Tomorrow because it was the right kind of song for my voice. It's so scary being up there in front of everyone but I enjoyed it."

Kerry Corden, aged 20, from Northwood, who sang Sting's Fields Of Gold, said: "I did the best I could have done and I was happy with my performance. It was full of excitement and adrenalin, it was the best experience ever and I was speechless with the judges' comments."