ARMAGH'S ninja warrior Jesse Jane McParland has made it through to the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent.
The nine-year-old pocket rocket martial artist from Keady and fellow orchard county singer Eoin Mallen - part of the 12-piece Kingdom Tenors - made it through to the next stage of the competition where 43 other semi finalists will do battle to win.
But it was a no from judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden for Banbridge-born sports coach Matt McCreary who failed to reach the live stages.
They will take on the likes of French ventriloquist Marc Metral who with Wendy the talking dog, has sparked controversy among viewers. Siberian light performers U.D.I. and burlesque dance troupe The Ruby Red Performers from Hull, whose ages range from 25 to 64, will also be among those competing for the public vote to secure a place in the live grand final and the chance of winning the £250,000 cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.
While little JJ is the youngest in the competition, the eldest this year is 73-year-old magical entertainer Jeffrey Drayton from Norfolk, along with his puppet Chantel.
Announcing the good news to the Our Lady's and St Mochua's primary school pupil, Amanda Holden quipped: "I was too frightened to say no to you."
JJ's delighted father Gary said he was crying tears of joy watching his eldest child at the show held in London's Dominion Theatre, and hailed her achievements at martial arts.
"That's one of the things I love about her. She is an 11-time world champion and nine-time European champion, but everyone says that you wouldn't think it because you would never hear her talking about it," he said.
"She will go there and give it her best. But the most important thing is as long as she comes off stage and says 'that is the best I could have done daddy', we couldn't ask for anything more."
Among the other semi-finalists are the judge's individual Golden Buzzer acts.
Simon Cowell chose 26-year-old singer Calum Scott, from Hull, while Amanda Holden pushed her Golden Buzzer for London choir Revelation Avenue.
Ant and Dec chose dancers Boyband and Alesha Dixon selected young dance troupe Entity Allstars to go straight through to the semi-final.
David Walliams championed eccentric singer Lorraine Bowen, 53, who sang and played the keyboard on an ironing board.
Ageing dancers Old Men Grooving, contortionist Bonetics and 17-year-old dancer Dylan Byrd also made it through.
