Derry’s Brooke Scullion ‘so appreciative’ as she progresses to next stage on The Voice UK

Brooke, who lives in Bellaghy and is a drama student at Ulster University, Magee, appeared on the ITV show once again on Saturday night, where it was revealed she has progressed to the next stage of the top singing competition.

Brooke was the first contestant to impress all four judges in the ‘Blind Audition’ stage and on Saturday night, faced the ‘Battle Round’ with fellow contestant Jordan Phillips.

The pair sang Adele’s ‘Water Under the Bridge’ and judge Meghan Trainor chose Brooke over Jordan to join her for the ‘Knock-Out’ stage.

And Jordan didn’t lose out either, as he was chosen, or ‘stolen’ by judge Olly Murs to join his team.

Speaking to the ‘Journal’, Brooke, who was supported by her ‘unreal’ grannies, who are her ‘biggest fans,’ revealed the Battle Stage was filmed a few weeks ago. However, she had to keep the result secret until the show was broadcast and her phone ‘hasn’t stopped’ since Saturday night.

“People have been amazing. I’ve had so many lovely messages. I feel so bad, as I haven’t had time to respond to them all, but I will over the next few days.”

Brooke has been singing since she was three years old, when her daddy taught her and her sisters ‘You Are My Sunshine.’ She outlined how, in recent years, she ‘lost a bit of faith’ in herself and decided to focus more on acting. When a friend entered her into The Voice UK, she went along to the audition with ‘no expectations’ and was ‘so engrossed’ in her performance, she initially didn’t notice that all four judges had turned around to indicate they wanted her for their team.

Despite initially thinking she would choose either Tom Jones or Will.I.Am to mentor her, she chose American singer Meghan Trainor as they were ‘so similar.’

“I couldn’t not choose her. What she said was lovely and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I’m so lucky - she really cares.”

While Brooke wasn’t nervous in her initial audition, she said she was very much so as she entered the Battle Stage. “I felt a lot of pressure as I had been receiving so much support since the Blind Audition and didn’t want to let anyone down.”

She is yet to film the next stage, where Meghan’s six contestants will be whittled down to two, but said she’s ‘really looking forward’ to it. “I’m so proud of how the whole experience is going. For a lot of people, it can be difficult, but I’m taking each moment as it comes and enjoying it.”