Diversity have been voted as the winners of Britain’s Got Talent 2009, beating long-time bookies’ favourite Susan Boyle.

The Essex-based dance troupe, comprising of brothers and friends, triumphed in the live final following a performance which Simon Cowell described as “sheer and utter perfection”.

Speaking after the result was announced by show hosts Ant and Dec, group member and choreographer Ashley Banjo commented: “When you guys said our name, I thought: ‘I’m going to wake up in a minute’.”

The 20-year-old added: “Can I just thank everyone that’s voted – you’ve changed our lives and I can’t actually believe it.”

Scottish singer Boyle, 48, was the competition’s runner-up – despite being favourite to win since the first episode aired. She had earlier performed a rendition of Les Miserables number ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, the song which made her a YouTube sensation following her original audition.

Paying tribute to the winners, she insisted: “The best people won. They’re very entertaining. Lads, I wish you all the best.”

Meanwhile, saxophonist Julian Smith finished in third place after impressing the public with a performance of ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story.

He revealed: “I’m just happy that I’ve been taking part in tonight and been part of the whole thing. It’s an honour.”

Diversity will now perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Show later this year. They will also receive a cash prize of £100,000.

Without doubt in my mind Sue Sons semi final was the hardest so far, with the most concentrated group of stong contenders – just look at this lot. I am sure they all have there own fans but I am 100% sure Sue Son would be through in this group. I am not taking anything away from any of these acts but to me Sue Son is in a different league

Saxophone player Julian Smith, grandfather and granddaughter singing duo Two Grand, breakdancing OAP Fred Bowers and singer Callum Francis will appear on Thursday’s show.

Burlesque performer Fabia Cerra, dance troupe Sugarfree, dog act Tippy Toes and all-girl rock trio Brit Chix complete the bill.

Last year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson will be the special guest performer before the results are announced.

Two acts from the semi-final will join Stavros Flatley, Flawless, Diversity, Shaun Smith, Susan Boyle and Shaheen Jafargholi in Saturday’s live final

OK, so we now know who the top 40 acts are who will compete in the LIVE Semi-Finals.

Only 10 acts can make it through to the Grand Final.

Below is the full top 40 list of acts who will perform over the 5 LIVE Semi-Final’s – 8 acts will perform each night:

Aidan Davis – Dancer

Ben and Becky – Ballroom Dancers

Brit Chix – Rock Band

Callum Francis – Musical Theatre

Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator

DCD Seniors – Dance Troupe

Diversity – Street Dancers

DJ Talent – Rapper

Dream Bears- Comedy Dancers

Fabia Cerra – Burlesque Dancer

Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers

Flawless – Street Dancers

Floral High Notes – Flower Arranging and Opera Singing

Fred Bowers – Breakdancer

Gareth Oliver – Comedy Impersonator

Good Evans – Family Singing Group

Greg Pritchard – Male Soprano

Harmony – Musical Theatre

Hollie Steel – Singer/ Dancer

Hot Honeyz – Dancers

Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes – Dog Act

Jamie Pugh – Singer

Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer

Julian Smith – Saxophonist

Kay Oresanya – The Living Saxophone

Luke Clements – Juggler/ Street Performer

Mama Trish – Drag Act

Martin Machum – Guitarist

MD Showgroup – Dancers

Merlin Cadogan – Physical Performer

Natalie Okri – Singer

Nick Hell – Street Performer

Shaheen Jafargholi – Singer

Shaun Smith – Singer

Stavros Flatly – Comedy Dancers

Sue Son – Violinist

Sugarfree – Street Dancers

The Barrow Boys – Wheelbarrow Dancing

2 Grand – Singers.

Two acts from each of the live shows will go through to perform in the Final. The act with the highest number of public votes goes through to the final automatically, with the second and third-placed performers vying for the crucial judges’ choice

Tomorrow nights Semi-Final line up to perform along with Susan is :

Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator

Diversity – Street Dancers

Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers

Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer

Natalie Okri – Singer

Nick Hell – Street Performer

Sue Son – Violinist

Sue Son

Sue Son loses friend The violinist who stormed into the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent has told how she fell out with her best friend after Simon Cowell told her to go solo.

Sue Son admitted: ‘I got some great compliments from the judges. But at the end of the day I lost my best friend.’

Sue started her audition for last night’s episode of the ITV show alongside Janine Khalil as part of their classical music act Addicted.

But the pair were buzzed off stage at the Birmingham audition. Then in dramatic scenes the judges invited Sue, 23, back to try again on her own.

Going solo: Sue Son, right, auditions for the show

Her second appearance came four days later at a London audition, and Sue’s version of Vanessa Mae’s Storm had a rapturous response from the panel of Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.

When Cowell asked if the two friends had fallen out, Sue said: ‘Of course not, we’re still the best of friends.’ But yesterday she admitted Janine wasn’t talking to her.

‘She’s taken me off her Facebook friends,’ said Sue. ‘I think Janine was upset I didn’t tell her before that I was going back for a second chance.’

Sue told her friend she could not go back to Birmingham for the audition, but then ITV’s researchers offered a chance to audition in London. ‘Instead of seeing her first, and telling her, I had to do it on the phone,’ Sue said. ‘I realised from my other friends she was really hurt.’

Sue and Janine met at the Purcell School, a boarding school specialising in music. They both went on to study for degrees at the Royal College of Music.