A daredevil performer, who has wowed audiences with breathtaking performances at the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth, has progressed to the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent.

Australian circus performer Sascha Williams will appear live on television next week after making it through to the semi-finals of the hit ITV1 talent show following a sensational audition.

His audition – which was the very first on this year's show – left the judges stunned. Simon Cowell said: 'This has to be the most difficult acrobatic act we've seen on the show, I think your nuts!'

David Walliams described it as 'the most thrilling two minutes we've ever had on Britain's Got Talent.'

After being selected as a semi finalist, Mr Williams will appear on Thursday evening's live show – and he said it was a dream come true.

Mr Williams, who has appeared several times in the Hippodrome's award winning productions and will return to the Yarmouth circus this summer, said: 'I'm quite a shy guy when I'm not up there balancing, so I was shocked that they loved it so much.

'I have been training to do this since I was a little kid and to be on international TV performing my act is a dream come true.

'It will also be great to represent The Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. It's a magical place and the audiences that have come to see our shows and supported us over many years are the reason we love to keep coming back and performing.'

His success came as no surprise to Hippodrome producer, Jack Jay. He said: 'Sascha is truly a world class talent and how been wowing audiences in our shows every time he makes an appearance.

'His skills and daredevil stunts are second to none and we are over the moon he has the chance to go further in the competition.'

Peter Jay, the owner of The Hippodrome, thinks the Australian daredevil is the perfect act to showcase the circus building that he has proudly owned for 40 years.

He said: 'In all my years of circus producing, Sascha has to be one of the most talented and breathtaking acts I have ever seen. He represents everything we believe our circus is about, he is young, dynamic and absolutely must watch!'

Mr Jay said that Sascha will be appearing this summer in The Hippodrome's Summer Circus and Water Show.

'We are thrilled to announce that Sascha Williams will be appearing in our Summer Spectacular alongside a whole cast of amazing circus talent,' he said. 'Its going to be a very special show celebrating 250 years of Circus in Great Britain.'

The Hippodrome's Summer Spectacular runs from July 11 until September 16.