North Staffordshire couple Denise Leigh and Stefan Andrusyschyn have been installed as the favourites to win the 17th series of Britain's Got Talent. The blind Audley couple wowed judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon - and left fourth judge Bruno Tonioli in a stream of tears - with their rendition Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music.
Judges had dubbed the pair the 'positive in a world of negativity' and a teary Bruno claimed they had 'inspired', as Denise and Stefan received a standing ovation from the audience. Off-screen, viewers were even disappointed when the pair's performance wasn't rewarded with a Golden Buzzer and slammed the reality series on social media.
Denise and Stefan were sent through to the next round of auditions and, if successful, could reach the live semi-finals in an attempt to win the £250,000 prize and a chance to show off their talents at the Royal Variety Performance. But in its latest odds, Ladbrokes has predicted the duo could win the series altogether as they have surpasses previous and heavily contested favourite, Sydnie Christmas.
Bookmaker Ladbrokes said: "The opera duo were the standout performers on the hit ITV show last weekend, and they've subsequently been installed as 7/2 favourites to go all the way in the competition, leapfrogging Sydnie Christmas (now 5/1) in the process."
Dates for the semi-finals, due to be held at the Eventim Apollo in London, have since been shared by third-party ticket website the Applause Store. The next stage of the competition is likely due to take place from Monday, May 27 to Friday, May 31.
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