Comments on: My thoughts on the Hollie Steel BGT Backlash

By: Shani

Shani — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:28:45 +0000

Having a break down on stage is easily done, but she seemed abit mardy to me, well not just me. When they said they didnt have time she kind of acted like Veruca Salt. I did think she was abit younger than ten so i was rather shocked when i found out she was ten. I know what it’s like to perform on stage though it is a nervy phase. Hollie Steel does have an amazing voice there is no doubt about it. But if floral high notes had a break down on stage i dont think Simon would give them another chance.
But hollie did so well on the tour last night along with 2 Grand.

By: Angharad

Angharad — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:11:00 +0000

To be honest, I don’t think it had ANYTHING to do with her mental health. I’m not an expert or anything on child phycology but I am a teenager and I performed to large people when I was younger, it’s nerve racking, especially if you’re not used to it and if you mess up it can be really hard to try again, but she did! All she got was stage-fright. She’s a shy little girl and was scared that she’d ruined her chances. Good on her for trying again though (y)

By: M Grant

M Grant — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:31:42 +0000

I was annoyed at her second chance as nobody else got that chance. Personally I would never have voted for her after the first round. Her voice is not remarkable from that of other children I have heard in church choirs. As for the crocodile ‘tears’ when she was initially told there was no time for a second chance. Come back in a few years Holly. You are not ready for this yet.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:45:50 +0000

Just a short note.

The person that wanted the second chance more than anyone was Hollie herself. Her mother only voiced what Hollie wanted. Go back and watch the performance and you can see that. Hollie was determined. No doubt in my mind that she was definitely determined. If she was so set on winning, she would have broke down and cried after losing in the finals. She definitely wanted the chance to go on to the finals.

A show such as this has to have the proper personnel to cover all age ranges in a psychological manner, otherwise face the possibilities of lawsuits that could end the show permanently. As for Simon working with special needs children, big applause for him. And this DOES give him some credibility in making the decision to allow a second performance. He, of all the judges present, or the producers, would have a better understanding of a childs mind, special needs or not.

Her breakdown was for forgetting the words and she was upset with herself and instead of carrying on she stopped. That’s quite normal for a child. She was not taken advantage of, she was not forced to try again, she was never once put into a real danger. If she truly has performed before an audience before, she knows and understands what it is to be on stage.

I support Hollie’s desire to try again, and I am happy for the successful finals performance that she gave. Once she got past the issue, she was really very calm and really enjoyed herself. I could not deny that child the right to perform, as she wanted to do, anymore than I could deny myself of breathing.

I am not going to disect Frances’s reply to my last post, but its obvious to me that he missed my point and I will continue to disagree with some of his point

And Trudy, you make good points here.

Enough said from me before I open a really big can of worms on my opinions of “experts” in the field of psychology. No offense intended Frances.

By: jcf

jcf — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:03:38 +0000

Remember then 6-year old BGT finalist Connie Talbot? She was calmly poised through out the competition. Can anyone explained her composure?

By: Leah

Leah — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:27:30 +0000

i think hollie did well
she hasent got her spoit brat mood
shes a lovey girl
i think she was soo breath to go back on
i wish you all the best hollie baby girl
your a star
xx hope you read this
and hope you wach me on stage next year xxx
love leah xx

By: Gerard McGarry

Gerard McGarry — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:14:29 +0000

Neither Hollie or her mother said ‘Thank You’ for being given a 2nd chance.

I don’t think that’s fair to say. You simply didn’t see them say “Thank You” on screen.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:16:44 +0000

I wish Hollie didn’t have that tantrum, I used to really like her.

Her mother should have taken her off the stage to calm her down. Instead it all escalated into a full-blown tantrum.

Neither Hollie or her mother said ‘Thank You’ for being given a 2nd chance.

By: frances

frances — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:56:41 +0000

Mostly agree with Trudy.It was all or nothing for Hollie so shes not able to contemplate not winning. so want able to just enjoy being- no wonder she freaked out. But she should have seen a psychologist before the second attempt in the semis not before the finais. And again just because simon has worked somehow with special needs children he isnt any sort of expert on childrens mental welfare is he.

By: Trudy

Trudy — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:06:44 +0000

Holly was seen by a psychologist before singing in the
final to make sure she was okay. Also Simon does a lot
of work with special needs children so he does know
something about children. Surely its the mothers place
to make sure that her daughter was ready and she applied
for her to go on the show a mother is supposed to know her
child better than anyone else. In a interview with the mum
Holly has sung in front of many audiences of hundreds of people
this was not new which is why she was surprised at Hollies
reaction on the night. All children are different so you cannot
generalise whether something is right or not for them. Personally
I think the problem was that for Hollie it was all about winning
and not about having fun and enjoying the experience, and her mum
is very pushy. The first year we had little Connie singing who was
much younger than Holly but a completely different attitude she was enjoying herself and anything else was a bonus, which is why she was
not fazed by nerves etc the winning was not most important thing to her and her parents kept her grounded.