Rising numbers of isolating performers and a last-minute cancellation of a live audience failed to stop a Shirebrook school’s end-of-year talent show from going ahead.

Shirebrook’s Got Talent, Shirebrook Academy’s annual celebration of its singers, dancers and other performers, defied the odds to take to the stage, bringing the curtain down on one of the most challenging years in the school’s history.

The school has hosted the show every July for 11 years, giving its students the chance to showcase their talents to a panel of judges and a live audience of their peers watching in the school’s sport hall.

However, social distancing rules and an increase in students forced to isolate because of rising Covid cases meant that the show had to be broadcast online to students sitting and watching in their classrooms and at home.

Each performer, meanwhile, had pre-prepared a video of their act in case they were forced to stay at home because they or someone they had been in close contact had tested positive for Covid.

In the end, three of the 12 acts were unable to perform in person, with the judges crowning Year 10 student Isabelle Corbett, who sang a version of Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song Happier, the winner.

To watch the show, including Isabelle’s performance, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LWbluXYNoQ&feature=youtu.be

Second place went to Year Nine student Chloe Evans, who performed Coldplay’s Yellow, with third place going to Declan Cheetham and his version of Henry VII: The Original Tudor, a song from the children’s TV show Horrible Histories.

The show’s organiser, Natalie Mehrotra-Hughes, the school’s head of computing and IT as well as assistant head of learning and teaching, said: “Despite there being so many things that we were unable to do this year and having to decide on the day that it wasn’t safe to have a live audience because of Covid, the show was incredible.

“All of the staff who set up the equipment and took part in the show and the students really had to work hard this year and there were some brilliant acts, but Olivia was a really deserving winner.

“This was my last show because I’m leaving the school and so I was so happy that it went ahead. To experience live music again and see the kids shine on stage was wonderful after what’s been such a difficult school year.”