Drag act Martin McGuinness has vowed to “make Jason proud” after the Ireland’s Got Talent judge sent him through to the live shows BY MISTAKE.
The 51-year-old farmer is guaranteed a semi-final slot because comedian Jason Byrne accidentally hit the coveted golden buzzer with his foot.
The gaffe occurred when he clambered onto the table to prevent fellow judge Denise Van Outen hitting his red button – but Jason said he’d stand by his act.
Martin, originally from Belfast, but now living in Ardara, Co. Donegal, told the Irish Mirror: “It was a hilarious moment for everyone else, but not so hilarious for me as I thought I was going out.
“I started off in the wrong key and I knew I was in trouble. I was trying to claw my way back.
“When it got to the third buzzer I thought ‘I’m really in trouble now’. Next thing I knew I was covered in glitter.
“I’ve never been on such a rollercoaster.”
Martin, who farms cattle in Ardara, drew mixed comments from judges for his performance of Cilla Black’s “You’re My World”.
Louis Walsh blasted: “This is such a waste of a golden buzzer. You can’t sing. The singing was so bad.
“I mean if Cilla Black heard that version… she’s spinning in her grave.”
But once the gravity of what he’d done sank in Jason ran on stage to sweep his chosen act off his feet and declared: “It was fate that landed me on that buzzer.”
Martin, a seasoned drag performer with 30 years’ experience, said his confidence had been knocked by Louis’s “harsh words”.
But he pledged: “It was pretty brutal and it unnerved me a bit but I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ll give it my all.
“I don’t profess to have great vocal talent but I can carry a tune. I’m an old style drag queen with a bit of patter and I know how to entertain people.
“The show is about entertainment, not just singing. It’s not the X Factor.”
Martin’s alter ego Scarlett is now focusing on a semi-final performance to remember and he says it’ll need to be special to win over the other judges.
He said: “I do a bit of the musicals, a bit of Abba, a bit of Shirley Bassey Big Spender – so I’ve plenty to choose from.
“I hope I get the chance to pull something special out of the bag.”
Irishmirror.ie
