ITV has been slammed for cutting 92 year-old Oscar winning movie legend Shani Wallis from the main Britain’s Got Talent show.
Fans expressed their anger about the decision and explained it was so mean of the TV channel.
Shani Wallis, 92, who played Nancy in the 1968 Oscar winning film Oliver! auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent this weekend.
However, the star wasn’t shown on the main show and instead appeared on the spin off Britain’s Got Talent Unseen.
During her audition, Shani said: ““I was here on this stage 70 years ago but you will probably remember me as the female star of the Academy Award winning motion picture Oliver!”
Alesha Dixon exclaimed: “Nancy!”
Britain’s Got Talent
A shocked Amanda Holden stood up and declared: “Oh you were Nancy! I know who you are. Of course she’s Shani Wallis.”
“Wow, what an honour,” said Alesha.
Shani then sang a beautiful rendition of her song As Long As He Needs Me from the 1968 film.
After a standing ovation, Alesha said: “This is so beautiful because you are 92 years old doing something that you love so you’re my hero.
“You are an inspiration to all of us.”
Amanda added: “I am starstruck.”
“I can’t believe your age!” said Simon as KSI then revealed he had never seen the movie.
He added: “But I have to see it after this because you sang that beautifully.”
It was therefore not surprising that all four judges voted yes and Shani made it through to the next stage.
However, fans of the show were upset that she didn’t appear on the main show and slammed ITV.
One fan wrote: “Imagine not showing this! Oh my gosh Shani Wallis is 92 and she’s still got it what a powerhouse.”
Another added: “How mean excluding her. For what purpose?”
A third said: “For some unbeknownst reason it wasn’t shown on TV, 92 year old Shani Wallis (Nancy in the Oliver! film) singing As Long As He Needs Me.”
A fourth exclaimed: “Shani Wallis going on BGT was actually so beautiful. Why did it not make the main cut!”
Another fan added: “My thoughts exactly she should have OPENED or closed THE MAIN SHOW. Not #BGT2026 demoting a singing & acting icon like Shani Wallis to BGT Unseen.
“She freaking played Nancy in Oliver on stage and the #Oscars winning musical Oliver! Simon Cowell shame on you.”
While a sixth wrote: “Why was Shani Wallis demoted to the unseen auditions on You Tube?
“She is an icon and sang brilliantly. Such an amazing moment seeing her back on stage.”
After the film Oliver, Shani appeared in TV series such as Charlie’s Angels and Murder She Wrote.
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She was also a regular in the daytime soap The Young And The Restless, and appeared in films Terror In The Wax Museum and The Mojave Phone Booth.
Oliver! won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It starred Mark Lester in the title role, Ron Moody as Fagin, Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes, Harry Secombe as Mr Bumble, and Jack Wild as The Artful Dodger.
