Amanda Holden hits back at Britain's Got Talent 'fix' row after she 'broke rules' by giving second Golden Buzzer to surprise contestant

Daily Mail​

17-05-2025

Amanda Holden has addressed the Britain's Got Talent 'fix' claims after an uproar from viewers following a surprise audition.
The talent competition became embroiled in a fix row during the auditions and judge Amanda, 54, has now reflected on the uproar just days ahead of Sunday night's final.
During the last round of auditions, singer Max Fox shocked both the judges and the crowd when he suddenly shouted from the audience, pleading for a chance to sing.
Amanda and fellow judges Simon Cowell, 65, Alesha Dixon, 46, and guest panellist KSI, 31, appeared visibly confused by the interruption - with many convinced it was a scripted set-up by producers.
Despite not being on the audition list, Max was given the chance to sing and wowed with a powerful performance of Frank Sinatra's My Way, earning a standing ovation and bringing some of the judges to tears.
Caught up in the moment, Amanda hit the Golden Buzzer, even though she had already used hers, sparking an online backlash as fans accused her of a 'rule break'.
Now, speaking on her Heart Breakfast show alongside Jamie Theakston on Saturday, Amanda set the record straight, shedding light on what really went down behind the scenes.
Interviewing Max on the show, Amanda hit back at claims that the moment was scripted and insisted it was 'all true', telling how she felt compelling to hit the Golden Buzzer because of the audience's reaction.
She said: 'First of all, I want you to tell our listeners and talk Jamie through the moment, because you were an audience member.
'This is an absolute fact. He [Max] was sat in the audience, and we had a lull in the auditions whilst we were waiting for the set to change or something else.
'And you started shouting Simon's name and then tell us the story and tell us what led to that moment.'
Max - who has not made the final - explained: 'So, it was all on a whim really. I just decided to shout out to Simon and beg for a chance because I'd been trying for nineteen years to sing.
'But what the general public probably don't know normally realise is that there's so many producer rounds before you actually get to see the judges because there's a hundred thousand people or something.
'Thousands of them, yeah,' Amanda added.
Jamie then asked: 'Did you not think I'm going to get thrown out or were you nervous at this stage thinking well hang on this is not normally how it happens.'
Amanda said: 'Well, it's definitely not how it happens. It's never happened.'
Max clarified: 'Absolutely and I did think to myself are the security team going to chuck me out? But I was like I could get a yes. So, I analysed it, and I was like why not? Let's try!'
Jaime asked: 'So, then what happened?', before Max added: 'I ended up getting a yes from Simon.'
Amanda weighed in, saying: 'Well, Simon invited him on stage, and we gave him like five minutes to prepare himself backstage obviously because we had an actual act coming on stage.
'And then he turned up and he did it and the rest is history. But what I want to clear up now is that I think there was a lot of stuff on social media questioning the authenticity of it.'
'Well because it does sound a bit like a set up,' Jamie said.
Amanda gushed: 'It's like a movie! And I said on the day I just pressed the golden buzzer and said, ''let's just roll the credits.'' Because this is like the end of the most amazing movie of Max's life.'
Max said: 'It is beautiful I've watched it back.'
Breaking her silence on her Golden Buzzer push, Amanda added: 'But it's all true! It's all true and the audience were going nuts. Like my ears were literally bleeding and I was like, do you know what, I'm going to have to press this golden buzzer.
'I mean it's the first time in history that an audience member has got out, got it and got the golden buzzer.'
Simon has also strongly denied the claims that the moment was set-up - even offering to take a lie detector test.
The music mogul defended the authenticity of the audition, saying he had no prior knowledge of Max's plans.
He told the Mirror: 'I think I should be wired to a lie detector machine in the future to prove I'm speaking the truth because when something like this happens people instantly shout fix.
He continued: 'In this case do you really think I could be bothered to plant someone in the audience? No. But that's exactly what happened.'
It was the first time an audience member on the show has called out for an audition and been allowed to try their luck.
Simon added that he knew the moment was genuine based on how security responded when Max stood up.
He recalled: 'I knew it was genuine because of the way the security team reacted. He looked like he was going to try and break onto the stage or get to me.'
Speaking after his audition, Max has told how he was inspired to try his luck at the auditions by his late grandad, who died seven years ago.
In a touching tribute to his beloved family member, Max even sang the very same song he did at his funeral for his audition.
He told The Mirror: 'My grandad was egging me on in my mind. He always believed in me. He was a bit of a chancer as well – I definitely have his genes.
'I really believe he helped make this happen. I sang My Way at his funeral. It felt right.'
Max admitted he has been trying to get on the talent show since he was 16 years old and it took him 19 years to final sing on the programme and get his Golden Buzzer.
Max ultimately did not make the final with Jasmine, Ping Pang Pong, Vinnie McKee, The Blackouts, Olly Pearson and Stacey Leadbeatter battling it out for the £250,000 cash prize.