Britain’s Got Talent star Ella Shaw meets Ribble Valley pupils

Ella (18), of Langho, visited Bolton-by-Bowland Primary School yesterday (Friday) speaking to pupils about her Britain’s Got Talent bid.

Telling them she wants “to put the place where I come from on the map”, Ella, a former pupil of St Mary’s RC Primary School at Langho and St Augustine’s RC High School at Billington, is waiting to hear if she is through to the live shows of the hit ITV talent contest.

Ella, who has been told to rest her voice, took part in a question and answer session at the school before posing for photographs with pupils.

The talented singer came under the national spotlight after wowing Britain’s Got Talent judges with her own song.

Singing an original song “Summertime”, Ella, who previously took part in the Ribble Valley’s talent contest “GRAB” event, received a standing ovation.

Ella was in familiar company at Bolton-by-Bowland Primary School as the daughter of her family’s friends, Don and Lindsey Brady, is a pupil at the school and self confesses to being Ella’s “number one fan”.

Seven-year-old Orla Brady, who is in Year Two at the primary school, was busy making posters prior to Ella’s visit to the school. One to watch herself after making her mark at Bolton-by-Bowland’s very own talent show organised by the school’s PTA, Orla gave a short performance of “Summertime” with Ella who accompanied on the school’s piano.

Ella, who now has a nail-biting wait to find out if she is through to the live shows, said the support that she has received from the local community has been immense.

“The support I’ve received has been absolutely amazing. My Facebook page has had 30,000 views,” said Ella, who also has a huge fan base on Twitter. “Everything I have done before has built up to this moment.”

Giving something back to her local community is very important to Ella, who has performed numerous free concerts in the past locally and to raise money for charity. She has also been visiting local schools to talk about bullying and to inspire young people to follow their dreams.

Ella suffered from alopecia when she was younger and started high school wearing a wig after losing her hair.

“If I get through to the live shows it’s then I’ll need everyone who has given me so much support so far to get me through to the live finals,” she said.