Britain's Got Talent: Simon Cowell hints that he'll pay for contestant's £78k spinal operation

Back in April, we were all left moved when a teen dance troupe – then called ‘Just Us’ – auditioned on Britain’s Got Talent and revealed that it was, quite literally, their last chance for 15-year-old Julia Carlile.

The teen dancer was born with scoliosis, which causes a curve of the spine, and Julia is due to undergo surgery to straighten her back later this year but the op will dramatically reduce her mobility – meaning that she will no longer be able to dance.

Needless to say, Alesha Dixon immediately pushed her Golden Buzzer, securing the girls a spot in the semi-finals, and it was later revealed that if the girls win the £250,000 prize fund it’ll be used to pay for Julia to have a different kind of operation in America, which would mean that she’ll be able to continue dancing.

The operation costs a staggering £78,000, which means that winning the prize fund really would be life-changing for the teen.

However, when the girls took to the stage during last night’s semi-final – this time under the new name Merseygirls – Simon Cowell hinted that he will give Julia the money for the operation regardless of whether or not they win.

Speaking after the troupe’s moving performance, the mogul generously shared: “Whatever happens, we’ll make sure you’re in a great place.

“I don’t want to get too emotional, but, out of all the acts tonight, you and the Pensionalities are the ones who got me.

“You’re both uplifting and doing something positive.”

Julia and the rest of the group, which features her 17-year-old sister, Alice, and their friends, 14-year-old Poppy Gerrard, 17-year-old Annie Winstanley and 16-year-old Rebecca Jordan, were clearly overwhelmed by the kind gesture and thanked Simon for his words.

Speaking out previously about her impending operation, Julia explained: “If we win I’d hope to fly to America, where I can get another kind of operation – called tethering surgery – that means I could dance for the rest of my life.

“It’s expensive, though, so I can’t afford it right now. We have saved £4,000 and we need $100,000 [just over £78,000].

“I’ve had to wear a back brace since I was nine. I have this constant ache at the back of my spine. It kind of crushes your organs, too.

“If I do a certain move I might feel sharp pain, but dancing takes my mind off that. I used to always cover my back as I’ve got a hump, but the girls have helped me show everyone who I really am.”

MerseyGirls clearly won over the hearts of the public as they were voted into Saturday night’s live final alongside the Pensionalities.

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