When the D-Day Darlings stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage in 2018, they brought more than a collection of familiar wartime songs. Their performance was a moving tribute to the courage, resilience and spirit of the British people during the Second World War, earning praise from the judges and winning the hearts of viewers.

Founded by Katie Ashby in 2008, the group was created to celebrate the music that offered comfort and hope to soldiers serving overseas and families waiting anxiously at home. Their audition, featuring a much-loved Vera Lynn classic, proved that songs from another era could still carry enormous emotional power.

The Story Behind the D-Day Darlings

The group’s name refers to one of the most significant events of the Second World War: D-Day, which took place on Tuesday, June 6, 1944.

The letter “D” simply stands for “Day”. It was the date Allied forces launched the largest seaborne invasion in history, landing on the beaches of Normandy in France. The operation marked the beginning of the campaign to liberate France and Western Europe from Nazi Germany.

Despite extensive preparations and air support, the landings came at a heavy cost. Estimates put German casualties between 4,000 and 9,000, while Allied casualties numbered at least 10,000, including 4,414 confirmed dead.

When Ashby formed the D-Day Darlings, however, her intention was not to recreate the horrors of battle. Instead, she wanted to honour the determination of ordinary British people during wartime and revive the music associated with that period.

Inspired by Dame Vera Lynn and other singers whose voices brought reassurance to troops and civilians alike, Ashby built a group dedicated to keeping those memories alive.

Watch the D-Day Darlings’ memorable Britain’s Got Talent audition:

The Judges Praise Their Emotional Performance

Although the audition video ends before the judges’ full reactions, their comments made clear how much the performance had affected them.

Alesha Dixon praised the group’s commitment to preserving wartime memories, telling them: “It’s important that we remember these people and you’re doing it brilliantly.”

Amanda Holden described the choir as “perfect for the Royal Family”, while Simon Cowell summed up his reaction with three simple observations: “It was beautiful. It was classy, it was emotional.”

According to the BGT Wiki, the D-Day Darlings became favourites to win the competition following their audition. Their journey was far from over, and their semi-final performance would give them another opportunity to demonstrate why audiences had connected with them so strongly.

From a Trio to a Nine-Member Choir

The D-Day Darlings began as a trio before expanding into a nine-member group following the positive response to their early performances.

Long before appearing on national television, they had already established themselves at events and venues connected with Britain’s military history. Their performances included appearances at the Imperial War Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the Black Country Museum, as well as Festivals of Remembrance organised by the Royal British Legion.

They also performed at 1940s-themed events and private parties, helping introduce wartime music to audiences of different generations.

Their work had a charitable dimension, too. By the time they appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, the group had raised £40,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Rule, Britannia! Takes Them All the Way to the Final

For their semi-final appearance, the D-Day Darlings delivered a rousing version of “Rule, Britannia!” that had the audience on its feet.

The performance reached an especially emotional climax when Second World War veterans emerged from the wings, bringing the group’s tribute to the wartime generation directly into the spotlight.

The stirring arrangement and powerful visual moment helped secure their place in the final.

The group ultimately finished third in the competition. Their success brought a recording deal with Sony Music UK, and later in 2018 they released their debut album, I’ll Remember You. The record reached No. 15 on the UK Albums Chart.

The D-Day Darlings continued performing after their television success. In mid-October 2023, they marked their 15th anniversary with the release of the seasonal song “A Christmas To Remember” and a 90-minute anniversary stream on their YouTube channel.

The Wartime Classic That Made Their Audition Special

The song chosen for their BGT audition was “We’ll Meet Again”, the famous wartime favourite recorded by Vera Lynn. Written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, it became one of the defining songs of the Second World War era.

Its message of hope and reunion resonated deeply with servicemen leaving to fight and the families and loved ones they left behind. Decades later, it remains closely associated with the emotional experience of wartime Britain.

The song also holds a place in recording history. One version was among the early recordings to feature the Hammond Novachord, one of the first polyphonic synthesizers.

Its popularity was evident again in 2020, when the 75th anniversary of VE Day was commemorated. Two recordings of “We’ll Meet Again” appeared in the charts: Vera Lynn’s solo version and another featuring Katherine Jenkins.

A Song That Found a Life Beyond the War

“We’ll Meet Again” has continued to appear in popular culture long after the conflict ended, sometimes in settings that give its familiar words an entirely different meaning.

One of its most memorable appearances came in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film Dr. Strangelove. Lynn’s 1953 recording plays during the closing sequence, accompanying scenes of nuclear destruction. The contrast between the song’s reassuring message and the film’s devastating ending creates a striking sense of irony.

The song has also been used in Disney Parks for guests waiting to board the Tower of Terror attraction. This time, the contrast is more playful, turning a nostalgic wartime recording into an unexpected part of a theme-park experience.

For the D-Day Darlings, however, the song remains closely connected to the people and history that inspired their work. Their Britain’s Got Talent performances introduced these familiar melodies to a new audience while reminding viewers why they mattered in the first place.

Those who would like to hear more can visit the D-Day Darlings’ YouTube channel or find further information on their official website.