When Nicola Smith auditioned as part of an orchestra for this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, she says she did not expect the reaction they got.

“The audience roared as more and more of us popped up. I remember Amanda tapping Simon and pointing over to us. It was absolutely amazing.”

Nicola, a violinist from Walthamstow, was part of The Collaborative Orchestra and Singers who wowed the judges with their flash mob style performance.

Pianist Nicholas Bryant came on stage on his own in what looked to perhaps be an okay-ish solo performance of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. To everyone’s surprise, within seconds of him starting a violinist joins him on stage, followed by conductor and then from the audience out popped a brass ensemble, then the rest of the string section, and finally a choir and guitarists.

The group earned themselves a standing ovation from the entire theatre, including all four judges. Simon said it was his “easiest yes of the day” while Alesha added they were “fantastic” although “I didn’t know where to look”.

“It was such a fun experience,” says 39-year-old Nicola. “We wanted to play to a larger audience but also offer something different. We wanted to show that classical orchestras can still be very entertaining, it’s a new side to it.”

The live audition took place in January this year, but before that, the mother-of-two explains they had to send in a tape of themselves and their idea.

“When you see the advert for apply for Britain’s Got Talent, when you apply that’s when you have to send in a tape - it’s like a pre-audition.

“We got a call back from the producers saying they think our idea could work, and then on the day, it was about getting us all in the right places in the audience and making sure our instruments were hidden. It was nerve-wracking but great at the same time - especially to get the reaction we did.”

The Collaborative Orchestra was set up four years ago and Nicola joined two months after its inception.

She says: “I had been playing the violin since I was seven-years-old but had given up when I had my kids. When I saw the advert I thought this would be great way to get back into it.

“There were only a few of us at the start and I quickly got myself on the management side of the orchestra and was responsible for getting more people in.

“We did some classical concerts in July that year and we’ve gone from strength to strength since then.

“The choir, who we have performed with on several occasions joined us specifically for this project and I think with them, we were able to create a greater impact.”

Nicola, a mental health and well being advisor at London South Bank University, adds they are very much looking forward to the semi-finals.

“We have achieved everything we wanted in the auditions - we are something different and we are just hoping build on that for our next performance.”

Nicola said there would certainly be more surprises to look out for at the semi-finals, which took place last night (Thursday). At the time of going to press, the Orchestra were busy rehearsing for their forthcoming performance.

Details: itv.com/britainsgottalent