SINGING for Simon Cowell would be a daunting challenge for the best of us.

And if he said he hated the song and detested your choice of outfit, many would be reduced to tears.

Not so for 11-year-old Rachel Kewin, of Willaston.

The plucky youngster, a pupil at The Queen’s School in Chester, faced the demon judge in her audition for ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

Her mum Eileen said: “Rachel sent off an application for the show back in October last year. I think there were about 20,000 or 30,000 applicants.

“She was invited to the first audition in Manchester in November and got through to the next round in London in January.”

It was there, at the Apollo Theatre, that she had to face the three judges – Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan – with her version of Maybe from the hit musical Annie.

“Simon Cowell had raised his hand as if he was going to press his button to buzz her off,” said Eileen. “She said her heart was in her mouth but she carried on.

“In the end, he said that he hated Annie and she should never had worn such a stupid wig but that she had a good voice and he was voting her through.

“Amanda Holden voted her through as well and so did Piers Morgan.”

Rachel made it to the shortlist of 150 but didn’t get through to the final 40 for the live televised show.

She said: “It was like a dream come true.

“When I sang in front of the judges I was a bit nervous but mostly excited.”

You can watch Rachel’s performance when Britain’s Got Talent returns to our screens in May.