BGT semi-finalist horrifies the nation with eyelid motorbike pull
Britain's Got Talent aired its third live semi-final on Saturday, May 10, and performer Bao Cuong's eyelids could've quite literally carried the whole show.
Not one to rest on his laurels after blowing away judges Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon with a sword-swallowing spectacle in the auditions round, the Vietnamese star turned into some sort of horror maestro by shifting various weights with just his eyelids.
"My eyes hurt watching you hurt your eyes and I do genuinely feel exhausted!" Dixon told him in the feedback section, while BGT fans posting on social media were equally disturbed.
Cuong started by bashing a pretty sizeable nail into a length of wood with his forehead.
So far so risky, right? But that was child's play compared to what he shocked us all with next.
He proceeded to then lift the wooden plank by stomach-churningly stuffing the flat end of the nail under his eyelid, which was linked to a chain. Naturally, the judges and studio audience struggled to watch.
BGT hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly were later called upon; sitting in a prop motorbike and sidecar for Cuong to pull with the exact same mechanism. It was gloriously sickening stuff.
"You look so normal and sweet and then you do these terrible things to yourself," said Cowell. "I loved it. I don't know what it is, it's like a horror movie that you kind of don't wanna watch, but do."
Read more:
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"Just took my first bite into my chippy tea after waiting all day just as this bloke comes along pulling cars with his eyeballs I can't cope," wrote one person on X after Cuong wrapped up his routine undamaged.
"I feel faint how is bro pulling a motorcycle with two men on it via chains that are attached to nails HE PUT IN HIS EYES," echoed someone else.
A third viewer added: "He ABSOLUTELY deserves the final, though I'm actually concerned about what he will do and I rarely feel that. Extremely difficult and tense to watch yet SO captivating and entertaining. His eyes look SWOLLEN."
In charge of this week's semi-final Golden Buzzer - a new addition to this year's series that automatically sends performers through to the final - Tonioli chose opera singer Jasmine Rice following her cover of The Greatest Showman number 'Never Enough'.
"I feel like I'm dreaming!" she laughed, beneath a flurry of golden confetti. "I have never been on a stage like this with this much energy, and just to feel it feels unreal. I never wanna wake up."
After last year's champion Sydnie Christmas stopped by for a special duet, this week's public vote winner was announced to be the Italian dance group Ping Pong Pang.
"We're so excited, thank you so much!" yelled the leader.
The other semi-finalists sadly heading home were dancers Harry & Lewis, pole aerialist Albert Amores, singer Mickey Callisto, accordionist Rumac, and rock music group Electric Umbrella.
Britain's Got Talent semi-finals resume next Sunday (May 18) at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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