Singing Irish priest Father Ray Kelly has made it through to the live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent. 

The 64-year-old parish priest in Oldcastle, Co Meath took to the BGT stage in front of judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden on Saturday night to find out if he had booked his place among the 40 semi-finalists. 

"To get to perform in the semi-finals live, it would just get me here [pointing to heart]," Fr Kelly said. "It would be an amazing experience."

Fr Kelly wowed the judges and audience with his rendition of REM's Everybody Hurts earlier in the series

As Fr Kelly awaited his BGT fate onstage with his fellow contestants, judge Amanda Holden said to him: "You better thank him upstairs, sir, because you're all through to the next round!"

Amanda Holden breaks the news...

Simon Cowell had described Fr Kelly as one of his "favourite ever auditions" after his performance of REM's Everybody Hurts earlier in the competition moved the audience to tears.

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After receiving the happy news on Saturday night's pre-recorded show, Fr Kelly was congratulated by hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

Fr Kelly is gobsmacked

McPartlin, who stepped down as host after a drink-driving charge, will not co-present the live shows with Donnelly going solo.

The Britain's Got Talent live semi-finals begin on TV3 and ITV on Monday at 7:30pm, with the final taking place on Sunday June 3.

Fr Kelly celebrates with his fellow semi-finalists

Fr Kelly's vocal talents previously went viral after a recording of him singing Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah at a wedding in 2014 received over 60 million views on YouTube.

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