I'd Do Anything: Sam wows judges as five remain

As the five remaining Nancys took to the stage, it was Sam who most seemed to impress the judges.

The 17-year-old selected the song Defying Gravity in her bid to make it through to next weekend's I'd Do Anything semi-finals. And if the judges were anything to go by, she has done her odds of winning a power of good.

'Every weekend your star is rising, rising,' said John Barrowman. 'You're so confident and secure.' Barry said she was 'magnificent' and Denise liked the warmth in her performance. But the highest praise came from Andrew Lloyd Webber, who said the choice of song had 'taken her up another notch.'

'You're not quite yet a Celine Dion but you're potentially a wonderful singer and you're secure in the way you move. You're the best mover,' he added.

He was less complimentary about Jodie (who John had called 'my perfect Nancy'), whose movements were more like the heavy rock singer, Meatloaf: 'I didn't like it,' he said.

And there was big disappointment for Niamh, who beat Ashley in last week's sing-off, when Andrew indicated that he didn't believe she could sustain eight shows a week: 'Your voice hasn't developed yet and I wouldn't want you to ruin it forever,' he said.

Elsewhere, Andrew was worried about Jessie's choice of song and the judges felt that Rachel needed to open up and show more of herself in her performances.

On balance, it was Samantha's night. Tune in tonight to see who makes it through to the semi-finals.