FIRST of all let's get the big issue out of the way.

Susan Boyle.

All week, it's been will she or won't she…will the find of Britain's Got Talent 2009 make it on stage in Nottingham?

Well, disappointingly for a packed matinee show at the Arena on Saturday, it was a 'won't she'.

The absence of an apparently exhausted Boyle, propelled from a simple existence in West Lothian to worldwide stardom on the back of a triumphant audition for the ITV talent contest, was revealed on notices pinned around the Arena entrances.

But the show must go on… and how it did.

Singer Boyle was not the only absentee, as the live show features none of the judges as seen on TV.

But step forward Stephen Mulhern, he of the general tomfoolery that is Britain's Got More Talent, the post-main show lark-about on ITV2.

He joked his way through compering the live tour, and all the finalists (barring Boyle) got their video introduction, as per the real show, on a giant screen at the back of the stage.

The first half was straightforward enough. Each finalist got their moment in the spotlight and it was easy to see how the TV voting went from the amount of digital camera screens blinking into life once an act was announced.

The most cameras were primed for action when 2009 winners Diversity, the troupe who set new standards for dance, kicked off proceedings.

Next up was 12-year-old singer Shaheen Jafargholi, then saxophonist Julian Smith, grandfather and granddaughter singers 2 Grand and the hilarious father-and-son dance duo Stavros Flatley.

Ten-year-old singer Hollie Steel was next, then dancer Aidan Davis, singer Shaun Smith and finally the second brilliant dance group, Flawless.

The interval gave a chance for some pondering of how the organisers would shake it up for the second half, which duets and combinations we would see.

Shaun Smith singing Ain't No Sunshine, accompanied by Julian Smith on sax, was predictable enough, as was Hollie being joined by 2 Grand for Sound of Music classic Edelweiss.

A little more thought went into disguising Stavros Flatley as Stormtroopers for a cameo from Simon Cowell whipping boy, Darth Jackson (aka 37-year-old postal worker who should know better, Philip).

More fun was to be had with the 'Four Tops', the so-called BGT 'super-group' formed out of singer Shaheen backed by dancers Aidan and the two youngsters from Diversity, Mitchell and Perri.

That nearly brought the house down.

What did bring the house down was Flawless being joined by last series winner George Sampson for a part-dance, part-gymnastics routine.

Sampson stayed put for a brilliant solo spot performed to the Pink Floyd classic Another Brick in the Wall.

'He's still got it," oozed Mulhern as Sampson ended with a spectacular running back flip off, you've guessed it… a wall.

Diversity were left to wrap things up with an enhanced version of their stunning routine from the TV final, which was genuinely spell-binding.

Some insist Flawless are better dancers, but Diversity can more than hold their own and it's not just about the dancing.

The choreography is so innovative, and the ideas just keep on flowing through their routines, you just can't take your eyes off them.

They were worthy winners of the contest and a fantastic way to end a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Paul Hindle