Three more acts through to Norwich talent final

Three more acts have won a place in next month's grand final of Norfolk's answer to Britain's Got Talent after a thrilling third heat in the city.

The first ever Norfolk's Got Talent competition, which was launched in March, had seen more than 70 acts whittled down to just 32 who have been going head to head to win a place in the final on July 4.

The latest heat, held at The Talk in Norwich on Wednesday, had just six acts instead of the normal eight but there was no shortage of quality on show for judges in the Evening News packed competition.

Singing duo Aduros, flute soloist Maryam Moghadam, singer Ozzita Gorman, singer Steve Earl, Lucy and Brother Joe ventriloquist act, and Chinese lion dancing act the Hung Sing Lions lined up before the judges at the start of the evening.

And at the end of a thrill-filled evening at the Oak Street venue judges put through a trio of talented acts to the final after being unable to split the runners-up.

Lucy and Brother Joe, 12 a ventriloquist from Heacham won the heat with the Hung Sing Lions and Ozzita Gorman tying for second spot, but still winning through.

They will join Trackz (Rapper), Rowan Perrow (Singer), Strictly Come Prancing (Comedy Dance) and Gemma Dietrich (Singer) in the final.

Judge Joe Ringer, who runs Norwich-based events and performance company Mixed Voice with Josh Lincoln and Rick Greer and who has helped organise the contest, said: 'Due to the high calibre of talent we had on the night, there was a tie for second place and three people went through to the grand final.

'It was great to see such a young girl perform what is a dying art (Lucy and brother Joe - Ventriloquism) she displayed great confidence and also great skill and had the audience laughing all the way through.

'Hung sing lions we're really different - something I had never seen before and their act was very entertaining and very unique.

'Ozzita performed Crazy by Gnarls Barkley and Love You I Do from the film/musical Dreamgirls. She had great soul and power in her voice and also performed the songs really well.'

Mr Ringer said all the acts which performed on the night gave him and his fellow judges a tough task and was looking for more of the same next week in heat four.

He said: 'We had a huge amount of variety ranging from a classical flautist to Chinese lion dancers. It's always really hard to compare such different acts, but as judges we have to make the decision on what entertained us most on the night and who displayed the most amount of talent.

'We're really looking forward to next weeks fourth and final heat and of course the grand final - which is really shaping up to be a brilliant evening.'

The fourth and final heat takes place on Wednesday at 8pm. Tickets for the event are available from The Talk on 01603 660220, www.norfolksgottalent.co.uk or on the door on the night for just �4. Tickets for the final are �8.

Have your talents won you national acclaim? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk