A choir made up of missing people’s relatives and backed by Kate McCann are among the lucky Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists.

The Missing People Choir were sent through to the live shows by judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, as they narrowed down this year’s crop of contestants.

The group includes the sister of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, the father of chef Claudia Lawrence and Peter Boxell and Denise Horvath-Allan – whose children have both been missing for 28 years.

Missing people choir
Missing People Choir (Tom Dymond/Syco/Thames/PA)

Led by the Missing People charity, their first audition, which brought the judges to tears, was a performance of I Miss You, a song penned by Boxell which also includes lyrics written by schoolgirl Alice Goss, who was murdered in 2014 aged 14.

McCann, the mother of Madeline McCann, is an ambassador for the charity.

Families involved with the charity were said to be “delighted” by the choir reaching the semi-final. If victorious, they are planning to use the competition’s £250,000 prize money to try and help reunite people with their missing loved ones.

Missing people choir
Missing People Choir (Tom Dymond/Syco/Thames/PA)

Clare Cook, co-founder of the choir, said: “I know that all of the families are absolutely delighted that we have made it through to the semi-finals.

“The choir have been working non-stop and will put everything into our semi-final performance. We are so very grateful for all the support we have received.”

Also seen making it through to next week’s live shows were retired-registrar turned DJ Dizzy Twilight, a troupe of terrifying clown-faced dancers – The Next Generation – and a south London police officer who dances in his uniform, PC Dan.

Harry Gardner
Harry Gardner (Tom Dymond/Thames/Syco)

16-year-old Harry Gardner will also be given a chance to impress the voting public following his emotional audition where he performed a song about his grandmother who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. He was given a standing ovation for the performance and has revealed his nan died since filming.

The lucky 35 acts will join the five golden buzzer acts who automatically qualified for the semi-finals which start on Monday.

Britain’s Got Talent is on Monday at 7.30pm.