WATCH: Britain's Got Talent hopefuls could face TV judges

Britain’s Got Talent hopefuls arrived in Colchester for first round auditions on Tuesday evening at Firstsite.

Brave performers of all ages were filmed by the show’s producers during a five-hour audition session.

Leanne Jane Wood, 15, from Colchester, turned up with her mum Hayley Knivett and brother Sonny, two, as well as sisters Lois, 11, and Ellie Wood, 9, who also auditioned.

The Colne Community School and College pupil sang a solo rendition of Elvis Presley’s 'Can’t help Falling in Love With You' on her dad’s guitar.

Self-taught musician, Dean Wood, died of cancer in October 2014, aged 29.

This is Leanne’s way of following in his footsteps.

She said: “He taught me the guitar when I was ten, but as I’d play, I would sing at the same time.

“I heard the Elvis song on an advert, but when I searched for it online, I saw the Haley Reinhart version and thought it sounded original, plus not many people know it.”

This was Leanne’s second audition after trying her luck in London at age 13.

She added: “It was my mum who pushed me to do it, but I’d always wanted to give it another go because I’ve improved so much between then and now, especially now I’m with Stage Coach and have a vocal tutor.

“If I got through to the next round, I wouldn’t believe it – I’d be so shocked.”

Tony Crossley, 53, who cares for his elderly parents full-time, still dreams of being a professional singer.

But he left his audition after singing Tom Jones’s ‘I Will Never Fall In Love’ regretful of not having a backing track.

The father-of-four said: “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been singing, you still get nervous and you tend to rush the song a bit.

“You look after your children when you’re young and now I’m looking after my parents, so it’s hard to get where you want - but if I were to get a lucky break, I’d go far.”

The participants, who travelled from across Essex, will find out in February 2017 if they made the final cut.

The ITV show will be back on the TV next year followed by the live shows.

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UPBEAT lyrics inspired twins Eleanor and Samuel Parr to battle with the best of them.

The 11-year-olds, from Colchester, faced their fear with an alternative performance of Rachel Platten’s Fight Song.

While Eleanor sang, Samuel accompanied the melody with his own style of interpretive dance, which he sometimes makes up on the spot.

All went well in the audition room but waiting outside, aspiring dance teacher Samuel said he was terrified.

Eleanor added: “I couldn’t believe BGT came to Colchester. We didn’t want to do it alone and we weren’t going to do it a first, but I enjoy singing and have won some talent shows.

“We’d talked about what song we’d do and performed it with our friends this year.

“Our mum Maria wants us to follow our dreams, but I think our dad will kill us when he finds out.”

LEAH Masters has wanted to audition since she was four-years-old.

Alongside her mum Natasha and nan, Joanne, she travelled from Chelmsford to showcase her freestyle dance moves on camera.

The confident nine-year-old had choreographed an acrobatic routine to a remix of the Nicki Minaj anthem Starships.

It was a fast solo filled with sass, and moves which have been perfected at local dance schools and national competitions.

Ms Masters said she is clueless as to where she gets it from.

Leah said: “I just love the show and the audience. It was my nan who saw it and once she told me, I asked my mum if she could take me.

“One day I want to build my own dance studio and make my own dance group, so that everyone can enjoy it.”

• MUM and daughter duo Ana and Fia Almanda were at the variety show auditions to show their support for Will Quince. 

The two wowed the crowds and reached the show’s semi finals in this year’s series and were full of praise for the MP’s antics.

Former college student Fia said: “OMG, what a voice!

“It was definitely worth the wait.”

Ana added: “We have actually never heard Will sing in real life and we didn’t know what to expect but he opened his mouth and that voice came out - what a voice.”

Anna and Fia, who are originally from Indonesia, moved to Colchester from America in 2011.

They had some advice for all the town’s auditionees.

Fia said: “Nothing is impossible. Our lives changed because we went to The Bull last year.

“If we hadn’t, our lives would be completely different.”

Ana added: “My message would be to just be yourself. It is much easier that way.

“Reach for the stars and believe in yourself.”

Successful auditions at this stage mean a chance to appear in front of the judges, and maybe on television, to be aired in June.

Colchester’s auditions were held at Firstsite.

Firstsite’s director Sally Shaw said: “We were thrilled to host Britain’s Got Talent open auditions. 

“Firstsite is committed to cultivating creative talent.”