Australian warbler Rolf Harris is said to be interested in singing a duet with Britain’s Got Talent youngster Hollie Steel.

Hollie’s mother Nina told The Mirror: “We have just heard that Rolf wants to do a single with her. It’s a new song that Rolf has written about a grandfather and granddaughter.

“Obviously, we’re delighted. Hollie would love to record an album, so we really hope this will lead to other things.”

She added: “Hollie is a big fan of Rolf, especially when he was doing Animal Hospital.”

I was doing our live coverage of BGT on Twitter last night when Hollie Steel had her breakdown on stage. I don’t know about you, but it was very fraught and emotional, and even I had tears in my eyes. She genuinely looked devastated. Amanda looked devastated. Ant & Dec were – for once – speechless. Piers was conspicuously quiet, and Cowell was put on the spot to give the girl a second chance.

For Simon, it was a Catch 22 situation: Hollie and her mother were pleading for a second chance LIVE on national TV. What was he to do? Break the girl’s heart and take his Mr Nasty persona to new heights, or give her a second chance and risk the wrath of the nation for jeopardising another contestant’s chances? Faced with a tough decision, he didn’t really have much choice – he needed to promise Hollie a second chance to get her off the stage and keep the show running. You can’t really criticise Simon’s actions last night: he took the best action possible given the circumstances.

For Hollie, let me remind you of this: none of us know this kid. I’ve seen some supposedly adult people write some extremely nasty things about this girl. Whether she was genuinely upset or not, whether it was a tantrum or not, she doesn’t deserve all this vitriol. The Internet has a long memory, and I’d hate to think this child has a string of hateful messages left about her on various sites and message boards that she’ll discover and read as she grows up.

I’ve seen theories about her lack of tears, her pushy mother, her spoilt tantrum onstage

So, citizens of the Internet and Britain’s Got Talent fans: let’s get some perspective, shall we? Take a deep breath and prep yourselves for tonight’s final.

I know I can be as harsh as anyone else when it comes to critiquing reality TV contestants, but it’s not a proud day for the Internet when grown men and women start a #hatehollie campaign on Twitter. And accuse the child of being a spoilt stage school brat. And question her ability to produce tears when crying. I mean, do we honestly think that her breakdown was staged? She became overwhelmed and upset. Sure, she pushed the line between upset and tantrumming at one point, but let’s give her a break this once.

Even if it was staged, our noble tabloid press will no doubt find someone among the other acts who’ll give the story from backstage. There’ll be a disgruntled contestant or family member somewhere who’ll speak out and reveal if your suspicions are true. Until then, let’s assume we’re dealing with a 10 year old girl who got a little stage struck and simply wanted asecond chance.

I don’t, however, believe Hollie deserves to win tonight: the chaff has been removed and only the wheat remains apparently. Aiden Davies looks like a brilliant prospect. Stavros Flatley are a personal favourite of mine – funny, cute and irreverant. Susan Boyle, the Scottish internet sensation may also prove difficult to beat, although news reports in recent days may have tarnished her chances somewhat. This will be a tough final.

Unreality TV will be having a Britain’s Got Talent extravaganza tonight – we’ll be live on the Unreality TV Forum chatting about the show live, and I’ll be manning the Twitter desk, sharing the best tweets about tonight’s final! Feel free to join us!

Aidan Davis and Hollie Steel have won a place in Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent final.

Aidan won the first place leaving Greg Pritchard and Hollie Steel to battle it out for the judges vote.

All the judges opted for Hollie which is going to cause a huge kickup amongst the viewers. There is already a backlash of people suggesting that Hollie’s earlier breakdown was an act and a plan to help her get through to the final. I think people need to remember that Hollie is a ten year old girl and not a criminal mastermind!

UPDATE: Can we please remind people that Hollie is a 10 year old girl. Whether or not you agree with Simon’s decision to let her sing again, remember that she is only a child and some of your vicious comments speak more about you than about her.

Only those with a heart of stone could have watched Hollie Steel break down on tonight’s Britain’s Got talent semi final and not almost join her in tears.

The little girl came onto the stage and began to sing Edelwiess from Sound Of Music. It was obvious from the start that she was nervous and her voice shook from the first note, I was so scared watching her progress.

By the middle of the song Hollie was wobbling and a few seconds later she broke down completely and the music had to be stopped. Hollie’s mum came up to the stage to comfort her and Hollie begged for a second chance. The producers, ever worried about their ad breaks and revenue figures, told Ant and Dec that she couldn’t perform for a second time. Hollie was almost in hysterics at the news, until, Simon Cowell swooped in and promised her that they would fit her in again at some point during the show.

Hollie reappeared later in the show and sang the song fully with no more tears. When the results were announced Hollie was placed up against Greg Pritchard for a place in tomorrow’s final.

By the end of the series the debate will be raging on whether or not children should be put under this sort of pressure and whether it is detrimental to their well-being to be judged in this way. I don’t think I would put my ten year old through the ordeal.

AGE: 10

FROM: Acrington Lancashire

JOB: School Girl

TALENT: Singer/Dancer

BACKGROUND:

Hollie has been singing and dancing since she could talk. She started dancing lessons when she was 4 and attended the KLS dance academy. The dance school is attached to BASICS junior theatre group and when she was 6 she joined this group. Hollie loves to perform and be the centre of attention whilst on stage. She is always trying to better herself and extremely busy throughout the week either singing, dancing or playing the piano.

Hollie was born in Burnley and now lives in Accrington with her mum, Nina a national health service worker, dad, Jason an audiologist and her brother Josh.

JUDGES COMMENTS:

Simon – YES I think you’ve got a fantastic voice! Maybe your better than you think – we take away the dancing – turn into singer

Amanda – YES Was like looking in a mirror! So mature, didn’t expect it

Piers – YES Didn’t need to wear that, we see lots of children not heard any of them sing as well as you

Kelly – YES Amazing!

Ten year old Hollie Steel took a stand against Simon Cowell last night, when she branded him a bully in an interview with The Mirror.

Hollie was upset by Cowell’s comments about her pink tutu and song choice and said: “Simon is a bully. He was very mean to me. He might have thought it was funny but it’s lonely up there on that stage on your own. I’m only 10 and when he said those things about my tutu I felt like I wanted to cry.

“I had tears in my eyes but I didn’t want to him to see me cry like the bullies at school so I thought of things that made me happy. I thought of being in the final of Britain’s Got Talent and winning it.”

Kelly Brook called Hollie “inspirational and beautiful”.

And Piers Morgan told her: “We’ve seen lots of children on this show but I have never heard anyone sing as good as you.”

But Simon was as caustic as ever when he said: “Hollie, Hollie, Hollie… let me tell you what I think. I didn’t like what you were wearing. You came across as a typical little girl who wants to be a ballerina, and I wasn’t crazy about the song.”

Simon’s comments were made worse by the fact that Hollie has suffered at the hands of bullies before. She said: “Simon’s comments really hurt because I have been bullied for a long time. I get picked on for my singing and because I’m small. One boy said I sounded like a cat being killed and girls tell me I’m no good and that I’m out of tune.

“They have pushed and shoved me in the past but it’s the words that hurt most. My eyes water but I don’t want to cry so I go to the toilets where no one can see me.

“But the bullies just make me more determined to do well.”

Last year George Sampson was discovered by the Judges in Manchester and he seems to have inspired young people everywhere to chase their dreams. On tomorrow night’s Britain’s Got Talent we will meet including 10 year old Hollie Steel from Accrington. Hollie’s Mum and Dad both work for the NHS and Hollie’s dream of performing on stage is a million miles away from their normal life in Accrington. As Dad explains “I am so proud every time she performs, there’s no doubt about it”. With Mum and Dad in the wings, can Hollie prove she has just as much talent as George did?

Dressed in her lilac tutu the tiny little tot starts her ballet routine to I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady. Simon however looks unimpressed and is just about to hit his buzzer when Hollie starts singing and Simon’s draw drops to the desk. The crowd are on their feet, Kelly looks on the verge of tears, and Amanda is singing along, proclaiming “it was like looking in the mirror!!”. Piers comments that “we have seen a lot of children on our show over the last three series and I have never heard any of them sing as well as you do”. With comments like that it looks like Hollie’s future is in on the up, but with Simon proclaiming “I didn’t like what you were wearing you looked like any other little girl wanting to be a ballerina and I wasn’t crazy about the song” will she get the three yes’s she needs?