Britain’s Got Talent’s Amy Lou Smith has heaped praise on medical staff after she welcomed her newborn daughter Aida on Saturday – after she nearly died following the birth her first child Hudson.
The aspiring singer, 34, wowed both the judges and fans of the ITV show when she performed Beyoncé’s 2006 powerhouse hit Listen from the film Dreamgirls during her pre-recorded audition at 30 weeks pregnant, with the moment airing this weekend just four hours after she gave birth.
Amy said she was treated like ‘royalty’ on the hospital ward where she watched her audition for the first time on her phone, with no clue it was set to air during the opening episode of this year’s series.
But she was in a much different place when giving birth to her first child Hudson, four, after she nearly died following complications with Sepsis after his birth, and she would not have survived if it was not for the quick action of the nurses at the time.
Amy exclusively told MailOnline: ‘I cannot say thank you enough to the nurses who brought my baby girl into the world safely. They are the real stars!
Grateful: Britain’s Got Talent ‘s Amy Lou Smith, 34, has heaped praise on nurses after she welcomed her baby daughter on Saturday – after she nearly died after the birth her first child
Born to perform: Her pre-recorded audition took place when she was 30 weeks pregnant, with the moment airing this weekend just four hours after she gave birth to her new baby girl
‘Despite how busy and stressful their jobs are, they still made us feel like royalty.
‘I nearly lost my life after my first birth following complications with sepsis, it was really touch and go.
‘I can never ever say thank you enough to nurses for saving my life – Aida wouldn’t be here without them – because I wouldn’t have survived without them.’
Sepsis is the body’s life-threatening extreme response to an infection which triggers a chain reaction and a variety of symptoms including shortness of breath, increased heart rate, confusion or disorientation, fever and extreme pain amongst others.
All four judges – Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and newcomer Bruno Tonioli – unanimously voted her through to the next round of the talent competition during her audition, with Amy receiving a standing ovation from the audience for her impressive performance.
Just four hours before her audition aired on ITV1, Amy welcomed baby Aida to the world, three months after her audition was filmed at the London Palladium.
Now Amy has gushed over newborn saying she is a ‘bundle of utter joy’ and revealed that they watched the audition from her hospital bed on her phone.
She continued to MailOnline: ‘We are so in love as a family. Aida has settled in well, and she is a bundle of utter joy. I feel so blessed to have had our little girl.
Set up: Amy said she was treated like ‘royalty’ on the hospital ward where she watched her audition for the first time on her phone, with no clue her audition was due to air this weekend
Little one: She was in a much different place when giving birth to her first child Hudson, four, after she nearly died following complications with Sepsis after his birth (new daughter Aida pictured)
Happy: Amy praised hospital staff, exclusively telling MailOnline: ‘I cannot say thank you enough to the nurses who brought my baby girl into the world safely. They are the real stars!’
Timing: Amy, who is already mother to Hudson, four, gave birth to Aida at 3.59pm on Saturday with her audition, the first of this year’s series, being shown on television shortly after 8pm
‘We watched the audition from the hospital bed on my phone, so it was the tiniest screen, but it was such a special moment between my family and I.
‘We were all together huddled around a tiny phone screen, but it’s a moment we will always remember.
‘We had our own viewing party (of sorts) on the ward. Aida slept through most of the show, but she made sure she was awake to see herself on screen.
‘Aida slept through most of the show, but she made sure she was awake to see herself on screen.’
She added of the reaction from fans to her audience: ‘I’ve had such a lovely response from people who have watched my audition – it feels like Aida has been born into one big BGT family – one day old and she’s already in the papers!
‘So I think she’s going to be a handful, seeing as she’s had the celebrity treatment at 24 hrs old. The kindness I have received from people has been so special and I keep pinching myself.’
And Amy joked that presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly would have to feed her little one while she performs, as she watches on from the wings during the next stage.
Amy explained: ‘Hopefully I will make it through to the next round, but if not, I am so grateful for this opportunity. BGT has done more for my singing dreams than I ever could have imagined.
‘These things don’t happen to me – I feel like I’m going to wake up soon, and it’s all going to have been a dream.
Born to perform: Amy was given a standing ovation by judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli during Saturday night’s programme
‘If we get through to the live shows, I might have to ask Ant and Dec to do the feeds whilst I’m side of stage! They’ll have to be on babysitting duties!
‘But baby girl will definitely be with me – with her ear defenders on!’
She concluded: ‘All I have ever wanted to do is be able to provide the best life for my family, and just to make them proud and happy.
‘I’ve done local bits n bobs and performances to try to play pretend artist, but being on BGT, It really feels like my dreams are coming true.
‘Everything seems to be aligning, and it just doesn’t feel real. I can’t stop smiling – for people to know my name – it’s just surreal!’
Amy, who is already mother to Hudson, four, gave birth to Aida at 3.59pm on Saturday with her audition, the first of this year’s series, being shown on television shortly after 8pm the same day.
She said she had no idea her audition would be shown during the first episode, describing it as ‘perfect timing’.
Amy was given a standing ovation by judges Simon, Amanda, Alesha and Bruno during Saturday night’s programme.
Simon told her: ‘That just doesn’t happen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so connected to an audience in all my years of doing this. Whatever happens next is going to be amazing. Really, you deserve this.’
While Amanda added: ‘The moment you started singing I was covered in goosebumps. I was thinking your baby is probably having a lovely little sleep in there and the she’s gone ‘oh, here we go!’. You are a star.’
Impressed: All four judges sent Amy her through to the next round of the competition (L-R: Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell)
Former Strictly Come Dancing panellist Bruno said: ‘The measure of a true artist is to take a song by Beyoncé but make it completely your own. The interpretation was on another level. you really are a revelation.’
And Alesha remarked: ‘That was by far my favourite audition so far!’
An impressive 6.2million viewers tuned in to the first episode of this year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent.
Britain’s Got Talent’s latest series continues next Saturday at 7.45pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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