Blind couple wow judges at Britain's Got Talent

An opera singer and her pianist husband have been described as "amazing people" after an appearane on tv show Britain's Got Talent.

Denise Leigh and Stefan Andrusyschyn from Stoke-on-Trent and who are both blind were praised for their performance, with Mrs Leigh's vocals described as “faultless” by judge Alesha Dixon.

Mrs Leigh, who has recently undergone chemotherapy treatment, said it took her about two and a half hours to get through all of the WhatsApp messages she had received on her phone after appearing.

The couple are now in the hat to qualify for the next round of the contest.

Simon Cowell told the couple: “I’m so happy that you made the decision to come on our show.

“I think you’re both amazing people.”

Mrs Leigh uses a screenreader to help her read the messages, and said she had been sent so many messages of support it had jammed the device’s software.

She appeared on Channel 4’s programme Operatunity in 2003, part of a nationwide search to find an amateur singer who could be trained intensively to sing the role of Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto at the London Coliseum.

She won the contest, and has since gone on to perform across the world.

She also performed at the 2012 London Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.

The couple said they felt the show would be something enjoyable to focus on following the difficulties the entertainment industry had recently faced during the pandemic and Mrs Leigh's illness.

“I think we’ve got to take the bull by the horns, and take every opportunity - and everything that comes our way we’ve got to try, obviously within reason," Mrs Leigh said.

“I don’t think there’s anything like a brush with death to make you want to live.”

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]