'The cost has put us into debt': Glasgow stars who wowed Britain's Got Talent call for more support

Ross Gunning, who runs Movies to Musicals, said taking part in the hit ITV show had been “phenomenal”, but added: “That experience has put our charity in debt.”

He explained: “It cost us £7000 to take 23 kids to London, as we had to pay for accommodation, all the food, costumes and part of the bus costs.

“The kids and parents made all the costumes, which were amazing. We put our hands in our own pockets to help cover the costs. It was important to us to give those kids that experience but there is no funding support from anywhere.

“Ever since I started Movies to Musicals in 2015, I have been fighting to get sponsorship from companies, individuals, governments – anything at all. What we offer these kids is unique in Scotland, maybe in the UK.”

The group raised the roof of the London Palladium with an electrifying performance which had a surprise twist.

“We started off, all dressed in black, looking like a school choir and it was all very nice but a bit meh,” grinned Ross, from Clarkston.

“Then there’s a bit of a magic trick, and I disappear, and one of our young singers, Daniel, appears in my place.”

The black costumes were then whipped off and the young stars performed an energetic, colourful song and dance routine from Aladdin.

The crowd and judges – Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden - loved it although much of the reaction was cut from the final show.

“It was a shame because we got some amazing comments from the judges,” said Ross.

“Simon leaned in to David and Alesha and said, ‘you weren’t here at the start, but this is what we created this show for – homegrown, triple threat – singing, dancing and acting.’

“I was gutted that didn’t make it on to the show on Saturday night.”

Amanda said "that felt like I was watching a whole West End show,” while afterwards, Ant and Dec congratulated the group, and Dec added: “You’re full of surprises, you lot, aren’t you?”

Ross said his “phone went crazy” on Saturday after the group got four ‘yes’ votes.

Whether they made it to the semi-finals is still under wraps just now, but Ross added some of the young performers had been keeping their appearance on the show secret for two years.

“We were supposed to go last year but everything got cancelled because of Covid,” he said.

“So it was tough, but none of us breathed a word. We started rehearsing at the end of 2020, and finally got down to London in January this year.

“The kids were all buzzing to be at the Palladium but it was full-on – the production team make lots of changes, even really last minute, so the first time we properly rehearsed the illusion was on the day before the recording. Daniel and I must have rehearsed it about 80 times. It’s one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done.”

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He added with a laugh: “Everyone has been asking me where I went, but I can’t tell you – all I can say is I was on the stage the whole time.”

Movies to Musicals was created by Ross and his orchestra, the Glasgow Philharmonia, in 2015 and its February concerts at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall have been sell-out successes ever since.

During lockdown, the group released a charity single, You Can’t Stop The Music, which reached number nine in the iTune charts, ahead of Miley Cyrus.

“What we do isn’t just about getting people up on stage, it’s a community for the young people and so many told us that during lockdown, if it hadn’t been for Movies to Musicals, they wouldn’t have got through it,” said Ross, who is an events planner and school music tutor.

“We need to give young people these opportunities. At the moment, licensing laws stop Scottish children from appearing in London West End productions. I’m campaigning for that to change, because it’s ridiculous. There is so much talent up here, and we don’t get the chance. To take part in a West End show, other than when it is touring to Scotland, you’d have to move down there. It’s very unfair.”

Movies to Musicals is going on tour, to East Kilbride, Kilmarnock and Greenock, in September. Auditions for young people aged between eight and 17 who are interested in taking part take place on June 5.

Visit glasgowphilharmonia.com for details.