BLIND Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists have slammed producers, claiming they were left “completely disabled” on the show.
Opera singer Denise Leigh, 53, said she was made to wear noise-cancelling in-ear monitors which left her struggling to navigate backstage in last year’s contest.
She performed with pianist husband Stefan Andrusyschyn, 41, but without guide dog Tilly because of the ITV show’s fireworks.
Denise said of the monitors: “It was disabling. I said, ‘Can I just wear one? They said, ‘No, you’ll get used to them.’
“But you don’t hear any real sounds and I’m navigating using echolocation and sound shadows. You are at the mercy of whoever is around you.”
The couple did not complain at the time but gave phone feedback days after their exit.
Denise explained: “I thought they might say, ‘You can’t do the show’ if I kicked off. I thought, ‘It’s not that big a deal.’ But in hindsight it was.”
Their You’ll Never Walk Alone rendition won praise — but Stefan said they were later left alone at London’s Eventim Apollo.
He said: “It’s jarring. I’ve had a bellyful of Mr Cowell’s productions.”
A BGT source said: “They weren’t made to wear in-ear monitors but offered the opportunity to wear them.
“They were also given a dedicated researcher in the run-up to the live show.”
A BGT Spokesperson said: “We pride ourselves on putting contestant welfare at the forefront of everything we do.
"The BGT team will advise our acts to wear in ears due to sound levels in the studio and for their count ins, however, at no point were Denise and Stefan made to wear them.
"The show welcomes feedback, and suggestions, for future series”.
