Fans of comedy ventriloquist Steve Hewlett gathered at Cromer Pier today to wish him well in the live televised semi-final of Britain's Got Talent tomorrow night.

The 38-year-old performer is well-known in Norfolk and Suffolk having cut his showbiz teeth at holiday parks around Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, headlined at the Cromer Pier summer season in 2011, and is set to appear at Mundesley Festival for the second year running on August 8.

Tonight he will drive straight from a gig at Pontins at Pakefield to the London television studios where the show will be staged in front of millions of viewers - and is relying on the public vote to progress.

Mr Hewlett says it is his big chance to raise his profile in the hope of being able to do more television and even movie work.

'I appeared on the Big Big Talent Show with Jonathan Ross in 1997, but I had just turned pro and was not ready for TV.

'I have gained a lot of experience now through theatre and holiday camp work which has improved by timing and how to command a room where there are children running around and slot machines going.'

'I love writing comedy and have even got a movie idea for Ricky Gervais who I am a big fan of,' he said.

Asked if a music hall style 'vent act' could win a competition dominated by modern singers an dance groups, he said: 'A vent - Paul Zerdin - won the Big Big Talent show the year before I was in it. Song and dance acts are also traditional but we all seek to update our acts. I have done new dummies, and have a act involving a baby,' he said.

Mr Hewlett chatted to fans who gathered at Cromer pier at lunchtime, including 11-year-old Jack Gittins from Leicester, who was inspired to take up ventriloquism having seen Steve at the Cromer Pier show.

? Britain's Got Talent, ITV Saturday night 7pm