Singer who wowed Britain's Got Talent judges at 14 to stand trial accused of cannabis smuggling

A former private schoolgirl who wowed Britain's Got Talent judges as a 14-year-old is to stand trial accused of smuggling cannabis into the UK.

Singer Olivia Archbold, now 21, appeared in court on Wednesday charged after two separate consignments of herbal cannabis were intercepted from the Netherlands. The court heard they had allegedly been addressed to her Manchester city centre flat.

Archbold, who attended an all girls' private school, made it to the semi finals of the ITV1 talent show in 2010 after she was praised by judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan for her performance of "In the Arms of Angels".

She received a standing ovation with her rendition of the Sarah McLachlan song, but missed a place in the final on the judge's vote.

At Manchester Magistrates' Court, Archbold was supported by her mother and spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and enter not guilty pleas to the allegations.

She faces two charges, one of being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug and being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of Class B. 

She was remanded on bail to appear at Manchester Crown Court at a later date.

According to her website, she trained in classical dance and performed with the English National Youth Ballet before appearing on stage in various productions.

She was just 14 when she impressed the Britain Got Talent Judges in her audition, with Cowell telling her: "You sang so well and you made it your own version. I am so impressed with you Olivia I can't begin to tell you". Holden said her performance was "utterly spellbinding".