‘Britain’s Got Talent’ producers have confirmed that Paddy and Nico will be unable to perform in the semi-finals due to an injury, and have therefore forfeited their place in the competition.
The duo - comprised of salsa-dancing octogenarian Paddy and her Spanish dancing instructor Nico - wowed the judges with their first audition, prompting Amanda Holden to press her golden buzzer and automatically guarantee them a spot in the live semi-finals.
Paddy and Nico
However, due to a broken rib that Paddy sustained during rehearsals, the pair will now not be able to appear on the show, meaning they’re no longer in the running for the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ title, despite show boss Simon Cowell tweeting earlier in the competition that he’d like to see them take home the crown.
A statement from 'Britain's Got Talent' said: "After seeking medical advice, Paddy will not be able to perform in the semi-final. Unfortunately because of this Paddy and Nico have had to withdraw from the competition."
Amanda Holden, who had initially supported the pair, expressed her disappointment that they wouldn’t be putting in an appearance in the live shows, saying: "Ever since I first saw Paddy dance I fell in love with her.
"She epitomises everything which Britain's Got Talent is about, she is a sheer joy to watch and an inspiration.
"Her audition was breathtaking and that's why I pressed my Golden Buzzer. I was so looking forward to her and Nico wowing us with another amazing routine in the semi-finals and I really think she could have won the whole show.
"The most important thing though is that she makes a speedy recovery and gets back to living life to the full."
Meanwhile a show insider told The Mirror: “We did look at whether she may be able to do a scaled down, less energetic version of her routine but obviously Paddy's health and welfare had to come first so sadly it just won't be possible for her to perform."
Paddy and Nico’s performance in the competition was met with some criticism after it emerged that the pair had already won a similar TV talent show in Spain, though they were later defended by Simon Cowell.
The clip of their audition, which showed them starting off with some basic salsa dancing before launching into a more energetic and show-stopping routine, has now been viewed on YouTube almost 23 million times.
‘Britain’s Got Talent’ continues on Thursday night (29 May) at 7.30pm on ITV, where acts will be competing in the last round of semi-finals, before the live final this Saturday night.
'Britain's Got Talent' 2014: Semi-Finalists
href="http://www.facebook.com/HuffPostUKEnt"target="_hplink">LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER