Jesse-Jane McParland is a martial artist who reached the Final of Series 9 of Britain's Got Talent. At the time of the audition, she was 9 years old, and this fact was enhanced with clips of her playing with other child auditionees, and Amanda describing her as a 'dinky little thing'. The idea of this was to leave the audience and Judges stunned when she began her performance. She hailed from Armagh, which is located in Northern Ireland.[1]
The performance began with Jesse drawing a sword and swinging it in a Japanese style. She then performed an extreme forms routine whilst still holding the sword. Finally, she jumped and landed on her knees, before raising her arms and shouting. All of the Judges were impressed, and Simon joked 'Would you like a job as my security guard?', with Alesha adding 'You are one to watch in this competition, you are incredible'.
In the Semi-Finals, she entered the stage wearing a red dress and hood. She was then surrounded by ninjas, who she 'fought' off, and then performed an extreme forms routine similar to her audition to ‘Protectors Of The Earth’ by Two Steps From Hell. Finally, she was faced with another ninja, which she also 'fought' with a sword. David remarked 'Its so original and so different', with Amanda adding 'You scare me, but you’re brilliantly scary'. She reached the Judges Vote, where she received 2 votes from Amanda & Simon. It reverted back to the Public Vote wherein she came 3rd, however she was later reinstated as the Public Wildcard.
In the Final, her performance began in a computer-game style, where Jesse was selected as a character. She then performed her usual techniques, before performing with two swords before then fighting off numerous 'fictional' characters to a remix of Troel B. Folmann’s ‘Men Of Steel’. Alesha remarked 'I loved the production on that [and] I'm so glad the Public bought you back as the Wildcard', with Amanda adding 'I loved the element of gymnastics and the whole sort of video game theme'. She ultimately placed 8th overall.
After BGT[]
In 2015, she appeared upon an episode of 'Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show', and played a Space Coast Dojo Student in the 2015 movie 'The Martial Arts Kid' whilst being credited as J. J. Golden Dragon in the latter.
In 2017, she appeared upon an episode of ITV Daytime show 'Lorraine', played Young Minerva otherwise known as Flea in an episode of the TV Series 'Into The Badlands', & Robin Hoodie, in TV Movie 'Robyn Hoodie'.[2]
In late May 2019, she appeared upon a World's Got Talent special alongside her father Gary wherein she reached the Semi-Finals, and received a message from her idol Jackie Chan.[3]