Published Sunday, 06 May 2012
Ryan O’Shaughnessy wows the judges with a love song about a mystery girl (© ITV)
Ryan O'Shaughnessy initially failed to make the shortlist after it was revealed he had already signed a contract to appear on the Irish version of The Voice.
On Saturday, viewers saw Simon Cowell told the hopeful he couldn't allow him to progress further.
"We have a bit of a problem, and I think you know what that problem is, don't you?" Simon said.
"You're on another show, which you signed up to. You signed a contract with another company, so why did you come and audition on this show?" Simon asked.
A nervous Ryan explained: "Songwriting is my thing and I wasn't allowed to express my own music on the other show but I was on this show and it was a better opportunity for me."
"I'm going to be absolutely blunt with you," Simon told him. "We were going to give you a yes but I can't. You understand that?"
But the Dubliner didn't give up and he has since been released from his contract.
He has now been given a second chance by the judges.
'I'm over the moon to be through to the semi-finals," Ryan said.
'I want to thank the judges for giving me a second chance. The reveal was such an emotional ordeal for me. I was fraught with nerves. I felt as though I'd let Simon down. Simon's somebody you want to please, so it felt awful to disappoint him."
The 19-year-old singer impressed the judges in Blackpool when he performed 'No Name', a song he wrote about falling in love with a mystery girl - later revealed to be a former schoolmate.
At the time Ryan just about managed to keep her identity a secret.
"My mystery girl and I have decided to just stay friends, but it'd be nice to meet someone after BGT. Being selected for the semi-finals is like a dream come true," Ryan said on Saturday.
'I'm looking forward to the live shows. I've been working on new material and focusing on the music," he added.
Forty-five acts are set to compete in this week's live semi-finals. Among them are Dalek impersonator Martyn Crofts, who took to the stage armed with a saucepan, and a team of synchronised swimmers, who jump head first into an outside pool during their audition.
David Walliams told the four girls: "You need such strength to do that, but you also need real grace and beauty and you girls have got both, I was completely blown away."
The first Britain's Got Talent semi-final live show will air on Sunday at 8pm on UTV.