We’ve been catching up with Rebecca and Justin, two of our ambulance crew here at NWAS, after their appearance on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent this weekend. They wowed the judges as part of the Frontline Singers; a group made up of key workers and professional performers who worked on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group received a standing ovation and crucially four yes’s from David, Alesha, Amanda, and Simon after performing the song  Strange Old World, originally written and recorded during lockdown.

Paramedic Rebecca and EMT Justin are part of the NWAS choir, who all took part in the song’s original recording. After that, Justin and Rebecca were asked to participate in a face to face rehearsal of the group at the end of last year, just before they auditioned for the show. However, the first time the whole group sang together was in their soundcheck on stage at the London Palladium just before their performance in front of the judges.

Rebecca admits just before they went on stage for the TV performance, her nerves kicked in, “In the wings, at the palladium, there are pictures of all the famous people who’ve performed on the stage: comedians, singers, actors,” she said. “I wasn’t nervous until I saw that, and then I did clam up a bit. I had to speak to the judges before we sang, and I couldn’t get my words out.”

All four judges stood up with the audience to applaud the singers’ performance; however, Justin says because of the emotions he was going through, he missed it.

“There were definitely a few tears at the end. I was hugging and consoling the person next to me. We’d become friends even after just meeting on the day. We’d all helped each other through it and for the judges to feel that way about our performance is really special.”

They could now appear in the live semi-finals if selected by the judges. On the prospect of singing again Justin told us, “We’d obviously like to go through to the next stage of the competition. However, doing what we’ve done already has been amazing, and for me, if we don’t go any further, I’ve got lifelong friends now, so that’s fine!”

Rebecca added about the experience, “I couldn’t be prouder representing the ambulance service in Britain’s Got Talent after everything we’ve been through these last two years, especially my friends that I work with in South Lancashire. It’s such an amazing thing to do. It’s such a treat and an honour. I’m excited for the first time in years; it’s ace!”