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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Britain's Got Talent's surprising moments - tearful breakdown to judges' smooch
The final of this year's Britain's Got Talent airs tonight, with the remaining acts hoping to impress the judges, audience and viewers at home. Here, the Mirror has taken a look back at the most shocking moments from the long-running ITV talent show After weeks of acts from across the nation taking to the stage with their vocals, dance moves and peculiar skills, the final of Britain's Got Talent airs tonight. The judges, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge KSI, certainly had their hands full as a myriad of acts rallied for a place in the final on Saturday, May 31. The victorious act will walk away with a hefty £250,000 cash prize and a slot to perform at the Royal Variety Performance. The grand final on Saturday will showcase semi-final golden buzzer winners The Blackouts, Olly Pearson, Jasmine Rice, Joseph Charm, and, most recently, Harry Moulding. Joining them, thanks to winning the public vote in the semi-finals, are Vinnie McKee, Stacey Leadbeatter, Ping Pong Pang, Hear Our Voice, and nine-year-old dancing sensation Binita. As we watch the 2025 BGT final, we've taken a trip down memory lane and revisited some of the show's most shocking moments... Final withdraw Susan Boyle's 2009 audition remains one of the most unforgettable moments in BGT history. However, Simon disclosed that he offered the singer the chance to withdraw from the final. After capturing the nation's hearts with her rendition of Les Misérables' classic, 'I Dreamed a Dream,' Susan attracted massive media attention, leading music mogul Simon to have a candid chat with the singer. While on Lorraine, Simon explained: "The lead up to the week of the final we sat down with her and her friends. We said, 'Look, if it's too stressful, because it's all over the media...' "She said it was fine, she's going to do it. And I'm thinking, 'Fine, she's going to win.' And I'll never forget it [when they said] 'The winner is Diversity'. "I was on that stage under 20 seconds saying into her [ear], 'We've got an album deal. Literally from that moment." Simon stated that from that point forward, it was up to her when she wanted to make an album and assured that she was "part of the family" now. Tearful breakdown When ten-year-old Hollie Steel appeared on the show in 2009, it was heart-wrenching to watch her total collapse as she forgot the lyrics to her song. Visibly trembling and crying, Hollie ran off the stage to her mother, leaving viewers questioning whether the pressure of the show was simply too much for someone so young. She pleaded for another chance to perform, and producers initially refused, leaving Hollie distraught. She was eventually allowed to try her performance again at the end of the show, but viewers were still incensed at the debacle, claiming she was being exploited. 'Fixing' BGT faced backlash from irate viewers who accused the show of "setting up" singer Jessica Hobson in 2011. A heartbroken Jessica was reduced to tears after Simon and David Hasselhoff harshly criticised her rendition of Beyonce's Single Ladies. Simon dismissed the piano performance as "dated" and scoffed at her "silly dress". When confronted by Ant and Dec about her song choice, she admitted: "I didn't choose what I wanted to sing.. Apparently it was somebody..." but before she could finish, her microphone was abruptly cut off, leading her to break down in tears. This incident left viewers speculating whether the young singer had been deliberately undermined by producers' song selection. Allegations of the show's fixes have mounted with instances of contestants being headhunted rather than spontaneously auditioning. After Kojo Anim secured his spot in the 2019 final, some pointed fingers at judge Alesha Dixon for favouritism, given their friendship. Alesha also had to justify her Golden Buzzer decision for Lifford Shillingford after it was revealed he had toured with her former band, Mis-Teeq, sparking further speculation of insider bias. Sad loss Ashleigh and Pudsey, the dog and owner duo, clinched victory in the sixth series of the show in 2012 and became the first canine act to win the competition. They told the hearts of the nation, and the pooch even starred in his own film, Pudsey: The Movie. Sadly, Pudsey passed away in July 2017, and while Ashleigh now performs with another dog named Sully, she stated he would "never become Pudsey". Infamous smooch The unforgettable moment in 2013 when Simon audaciously kissed fellow judge Amanda's bottom is forever imprinted in our memories. During a performance by 71-year-old Kelly Fox, who sang a cheeky number titled 'Kiss My Ass, Baby' by The All Purpose Blues Band, Amanda couldn't resist shaking her hips, prompting Simon, seemingly moved by the tune, to plant a kiss on her posterior. Post-kiss, Simon cheekily asked Amanda: "I kissed your ass. Did you like that?" To which she responded with gratitude and amusement, saying: "It was a first." Raunchy acts During her audition in 2013, Keri Graham stripped to a scant outfit and presented Simon with an erotic lap dance, sparking complaints. The performance led to disgruntlement among several viewers, with one irate parent tweeting: "Nice family viewing as your child asks 'Mummy, why has that lady got hardly any clothes on, and what is she doing with those men?'" When burlesque artist Beatrix Von Bourbon performed a dance that was deemed too racy in 2012, the show attracted further backlash. Over 70 viewers lodged complaints to Ofcom, disapproving of its suitability for a family audience. Stunt double dog In 2015, Jules O'Dwyer graced the stage with her dog Matisse and triumphantly won the show. However, there was an uproar among viewers when they discovered a stunt double dog was used instead of Matisse for a tightrope trick, igniting feelings of deception. Jules explained that the real Matisse was scared of heights, which necessitated the use of a stand-in. But viewers were not convinced, as the dogs were identical and the act had been promoted as just Jules and Matisse. Ofcom was inundated with over 200 complaints following the controversial incident, which even led to death threats being sent to the pair. It was ruled that ITV had misled the public, though Jules was not stripped of her £250,00 prize money. Risqué gown Amanda Holden left the audience stunned during BGT's grand finale in 2019 with her choice of a racy, transparent gown. The judge turned heads as she dazzled the crowd in her revealing ensemble decorated with floral patterns. Her bold fashion choice came after Ofcom received complaints the previous week about her provocative wardrobe choices. Twitter, now X, was set ablaze with comments regarding Amanda's attire for the night. One viewer wrote: "Amanda loves to show a bit of t** don't she #BGT." Another added: "Glad you've ignored the uptight critics!". Winner boos Comedian Viggo Venn was left stunned when he was announced as the winner in 2023, following his act of jumping around the stage in a giant balloon and dancing in his iconic hi-vis jackets. He sprinted around the stage in celebration, even knocking over host Ant McPartlin, as he scooped up the £250,000 prize and a spot on the Royal Variety Show. However, the audience's reaction was marred by boos, prompting viewers to share their thoughts on X, formerly Twitter. One user posted: "Very surprised. But Viggo was very funny. Very distasteful for anyone to boo Viggo. Not his fault he won, people voted for him, not anyone else. Made it a sour end thanks to the audience reaction. Well done, Viggo!!!" Another user tweeted: "Sounded like a lot of boos there when #ViggoVenn was announced as the winner of #BritainsGotTalent. I thought he was great, but a shock omission from the final 3, and I think everyone thought the young lad would win. Bit of a deflated, down-beat end to the series #BGT2023 #BGT." One disgruntled viewer remarked: "Did you hear them boo's on @BGT? Quite right too, ridiculous. So much more talent in that final tonight. #BGT2023 should not have made the live shows. Poor winner."
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Britain's Got Talent 2025 final live results as winner of ITV1 show announced
Tonight is the live final of the 18th season of ITV's Britain's Got Talent with one of the ten finalists being named winner of this year's competition. Over the past three months judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge KSI have watched thousands of auditions and had the difficult task of narrowing it down to just ten acts competing tonight. The winner will walk away with a cash prize of £250,000 as well as the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the King. Throughout this year's competition, we have seen a variety of acts with the final showcasing the diverse range of talent Britain (and the rest of the world) has to offer. From dance groups to magicians to an 11-year-old guitarist the finalists include: The Blackouts Olly Pearson Jasmine Rice Joseph Charm Harry Moulding Vinnie McKee Stacey Leadbeatter Ping Pong Pang Hear Our Voice choir Binita Follow our live blog below as we take you through the nights events and find out who will be crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent 2025.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
What is the prize for winning Britain's Got Talent?
What is the prize for winning Britain's Got Talent? We're moments away from finding out who is the winner of Britain's Got Talent 2025, but what do they win? Paul Potts from Port Talbot won the first ever Britain's Got Talent in 2007 After three months of countless auditions and five semi-finals we finally have reached the Britain's Got Talent live final. Tonight, Saturday, May 31, 10 acts will compete to become the champion of BGT 2025. From magicians to dance acts, we are definitely in for a show full of variety. The talent competition will run from 7pm until 9.45pm on ITV1 and ITV X, where we will finally discover who will be victorious, and who is the recipient of an amazing grand prize. However, you may be asking yourself, 'what is the big prize?' Well, we have the answer... For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter This year, the BGT champion will be awarded a staggering cash prize of £250,000. Additionally, the winner is given the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance. Before these substantial prizes, the initial five winners of Britain's Got Talent received £100k this includes Port Talbot's own Paul Potts who won the first ever season in 2007. However, crowd favourites Ashleigh Butler and Pudsey the dog reaped the benefits of the most generous year, bagging £500,000 in 2012. The following year the prize went down to £250,000 and has remained the same since. Not only that, but they will win the title of Britain's Got Talent 2025 champion and earn infinite bragging rights. The acts in with a chance of winning the dream prize in tonight's grand final will be semi final golden buzzer winners, The Blackouts, Olly Pearson, Jasmine Rice, Joseph Charm and the most recent Harry Moulding, who received a golden buzzer from guest judge KSI. The semi final public vote winners who will be competing in this weekend's final are Stacey Leadbeatter, Vinnie McKee, Ping Pong Pang, Hear Our Voice and nine-year-old dancer Binita. Content cannot be displayed without consent Tonight, we will also see a performance from a big name in the world of music and a well-known face from BGT. The talent competition announced the special guest on Instagram, saying "HE'S BACK!!!", alongside a boxing glove and music note emoji. They announced their surprise guest performance will be from YouTube, rapper and part-time boxer KSI. This season of BGT has seen KSI as a guest judge during the audition stages as well as the most recent semi final, but this time he will be on the stage rather than on the panel. Fans have shared their excitement on social media, with one person saying "Omggggg yessssss!!!!" Another added: "That's awesome, can't wait to watch our KSI do his thing." Article continues below
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BGT legend issues clear warning to Simon Cowell which could save series
Former Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts has shared his views on the current series of the show and how he believes Simon Cowell could save it A Britain's Got Talent legend has issued insider advice to Simon Cowell that could save future series. Paul Potts, who won the first ever series back in 2007 for his incredible singing voice. However, he is now offering his advice back to mentor Simon as he thinks he has some ideas that could save the show from being axed in the future. He has suggested that producers make the show even "bigger" than it already is and consider adding another stage to the process. Paul thinks his ideas would increase the standard of the acts who get involved as well as adding more wackiness. He think ultimately it would end better for those involved and give acts more visibility afterwards. Speaking to the Daily Star reported that Paul said: "I think they could make the show bigger, if they had another proper stage in the competition. They could make the standard higher and give people more. It would give people more visibility too and would be much better for the acts. "It would be great to have that back in the show to have some more of the fun things shown and show what the balance of the show really is – because you do get some wacky people auditioning. "You've got to be careful how you pay them, but you could show a wider cross section of what the show attracts and the kind of talent that is out there." Paul also explained that he thinks a wider range of talent would be found if producers went out into the community to look for people. He thinks that is is a "missed opportunity" to not go to local communities and that more talent is likely to be picked up if BGT went back to doing this again. The singer thinks that the acts to watch this year are The Blackouts or Hear Out Voice and thinks that both will be in the top two in this Saturday's live finals. Paul is still a fan of the show that launched him into the spotlight and says he still watches from the comfort of his own home. However, he has also said that he would like to get involved in the show again one day. He has explained that he would like to become one of the judges himself or come back for the 20-year anniversary, which will take place in 2027. He noted that the show is "very different" from when he took part 18 years ago. However, he still looks back on his time with "fond memories" and hopes that the programme continues to go from strength to strength.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Britain's Got Talent winners 'unmasked' hours before live grand finale
Britain's Got Talent fans can't wait for the finale tonight in which 10 acts are all hoping to waltz away with £250,000 and a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show Britain's Got Talent fans are waiting eagerly to find out who will win this year's ITV talent show. Viewers can't wait for the live finale tonight in which 10 acts are all hoping to waltz away with £250,000 and a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show in front of King Charles. But, some feel the show winner has already been revealed. With the star-studded final just hours away, bookies William Hill has made Hear Our Voice, the inspirational choir comprising of victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, favourites to win with odds of 6/4. The group - made up of victims of the sub- postmasters scandal, which saw hundreds of lives ruined by the Horizon IT fiasco - has wowed judges since their first audition and now look like they're well on their way to victory. Claiming the singers are "the ones to beat", William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps told The Sun: "Hear Our Voice have struck a real chord with the public and are now the ones to beat in Saturday night's final. "Their odds have shortened to 6/4 after their powerful semi-final performance." Should Hear Our Voice win tonight and win the chance to perform in front of the King at the Royal Variety Show, member, Tim Bretnall told the Mirror it would 'take their story to the highest level.' He said: 'The absolute best bit of this journey has been the audiences reactions and support, and to be able to feel that for royalty would be unbeatable. 'Winning the show would be huge, we've all spent so long fighting what's felt like an uphill battle, and it's still going on now, but knowing that the public are firmly behind us would mean the absolute world to us. 'It would give our cause a real seal of approval and hopefully a platform to continue to fight for the justice that people deserve, what's already changed my life is the joy that being in choir has brought.' The 40-strong choir was set up a year ago, with founder Mark Wildblood revealing it's become like "therapy" for them. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were accused or convicted of theft and fraud due to the faulty Horizon system, developed by Fujitsu and installed by the Post Office. Horizon incorrectly recorded financial shortfalls, leading to one of the biggest ever miscarriages of justice. Prosecutions started more than 25 years ago but victims are still fighting for compensation and for those responsible to be held to account. Hear Our Voice has impressive odds and an even more impressive story, however the choir faces some stuff competition tonight, with Amanda Holden 's Golden Buzzer act, The Blackouts, who won the semi-final vote earlier this week, hot on their heels at 13/8. Pointing out that the light-up dance group are still ones to watch, but are unlikely to beat the compelling choir, bookie, Tim, said: 'The Blackouts, who've been fan favourites from the start, are still strong contenders at 13/8 – but momentum seems to be shifting towards the choir, whose emotional story has really resonated with the nation.' Meanwhile, magician, Harry Moulding is sitting at 7/1 to win while guitarist, Olly Pearson, who won a Golden Buzzer early in the series, trails just behind at 8/1. * The live final kicks off tonight, Saturday May 31, at 7pm on ITV.
