It didn't go quite as planned for Joe and Katherine O'Malley, who appeared as Beauty and the Beast on Britain's Got Talent last night. The couple just failed to progress, with two 'Yeses' from David Walliams and Amanda Holden but 'Noes' from Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon...
Joe got two buzzers, as Simon said, because "it was difficult to sing through the mask", while David squealed "He needs a bigger hole". Finally, Alesha praised Katherine's "pleasant voice" but told her to "Ditch the Beast"...
However, the Beast ain't going nowhere, as the couple have started their own Princesses and Characters business, where Beauty and her Beast, plus other princesses are up for hire for children's parties, with songs, games and more...
Talking about their Britain's Got Talent experience, Katherine is really positive... "As soon as we walked on the audience loved it, they went wild because it was Beauty and the Beast" she recalls "It was really good. Simon doesn't like costumes; he just said 'No'. The panel didn't want to say 'Yes' as a duo; they wanted to split us up...Alesha said 'No' but gave some good feedback.
"Joe hasn't been doing it that long" she explains "He was in tune but the sound quality wasn't great because you couldn't hear through the mask. But the Beast only has a few lines..."
While many who go on Britain's Got Talent are polished professionals, Katherine and Joe both have day jobs, and Belle's dress was actually made by Katherine's mum, Jean Muriel. Behind their act is a love of singing and princesses...
"It's fun" says Katherine "We're trying to start our business, get it up and running and get some party bookings. We do Elsa and Olaf, Ariel and Sebastian, and Beauty and the Beast but we're looking to do all of them. We do songs, games, and entertain the children, like taking the cake out and making the birthday girl feel special. If there's boys, there'll be a character for them too.
"We charge £50 for a half hour appearance, which I think is affordable" she adds "We're not out to rip people off, we're just out to have a good time and for the kids to enjoy it."
The couple have already appeared at the Ordsall Festival as Elsa and Olaf (Joe didn't sing) and are building up a name as what they believe is Salford's only princess entertainment specialists.
"Salford does have children's entertainers but not specifically princesses, so hopefully we can entertain many children" says Katherine "A lot of people who do these parties mime but we're the real deal, it's mainly me singing."
Is Katherine not sick of princesses? "No I love it" she insists "I just love the fact that you turn up in costume - never mind the singing part – and four year olds believe you are the character, it's so cute."
While the Princesses and Characters business looks set to grow, Katherine has already applied for the X Factor...as a soloist...
To see the Beauty and the Beast Britain's Got Talent performance – click here
For more details and to book Katherine and Joe see the Princesses and Characters Facebook page – click here
Or email them at princessesandcharacters@outlook.com
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