EAST LANCASHIRE will be sending two acclaimed acts to this Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent semi-final.

14-year-old magician Jasper Cherry from Clitheroe and Chorley comedian Steve Royle, 51, will be among the acts hoping to win over the ITV talent show’s judges and progress to the grand finale.

This comes after a season like no other in which the show’s normal run was interrupted by the unprecedented coronavirus crisis before eventually returning for a special recap edition on Monday August 30.

Mr Royle said: "I knew I was doing it back in January and I thought it would all be over and done by May but because of the situation its just ended up going on and on but the way it’s been handled has been exceptional, the Britain’s Got Talent team have been brilliant.”

Mr Royle, a local pantomime favourite who has performed as a warm up artist for Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights in the past, was due to star in a performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Blackpool this year before the disruption wrought by the virus.

He said: “Not being in the Grand Theatre is going to be really strange for me and for the children having their dad at home is going to be unusual.”

However entertaining viewers and judges with his comedy, juggling and balloon modelling act has still made this a year to remember for Mr Royle, who is currently planning a show at Blackpool’s horseshoe bar as his next move.

Jasper Cherry meanwhile first wowed judges and audience members alike with a magic trick in which he appeared to turn a handkerchief into an egg in his hand.

The young magician appeared to reveal his secret by revealing he was in fact stuffing the handkerchief into a hollow egg – only then to reveal one final twist as he smashed the egg with a hammer!

Mr Royle has been thrilled to be joined by a fellow East Lancashire native as the competition reaches its closing stages.

He said: “Let’s all us Lancastrians stick together that’s what I say!

“He’s very confident, very assured and if that’s what he wants I’m sure he’s got a great future ahead of him.”