It seems like not a series goes by without accusations of a fix on Britain’s most popular talent show, and this year is proving to be no different.
As Britain’s Got Talent finally returns to TV screens across the nation, viewers tuned in to watch the latest string of hopefuls impress the judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Walliams.
But some angry Brits are crying foul, as show bosses defend accusations of a fix.
From experience on the coveted West End, ties to Hollywood movie soundtracks and million-dollar deals on streaming giant Amazon Prime, let’s take a look at some of the show’s biggest fix accusations as the new series gets underway…
Colin Thackery
(Image: ITV)
Fans branded 89-year-old veteran Colin Thackery’s win a fix after escapologist Jonathan Goodwin didn’t place in the top three despite being buried alive. Jonathan left viewers horrified when he risked suffocation in a case full of gravel, yet Colin won the most votes after the finale in a huge controversy.
The crooner sang We’ll Meet Again during his semi-final performance, as images of him and his wife – who died from breast cancer in 2016 – were shown on the screen behind him.
(Image: ITV)
Viewers flocked to Twitter to voice their frustration, writing: “Can’t believe Colin won. I just don’t understand the British psyche at times.”
Another fumed: “ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME! COLIN THACKERY! BEN OR JONATHAN GOODWIN SHOULD HAVE WON.” A third moaned: “What!!#Jonathan not in the top 3!!!”
However, many defended Colin’s victory, insisting that he was the most deserving of the lot.
One wrote: “F*** anyone who’s slagging Colin off. He’s what this country is all about.”
Loren Allred
(Image: ITV)
After snagging a golden buzzer from Amanda Holden for her breathtaking rendition of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman soundtrack, viewers felt Loren had an unfair advantage after discovering she was actually the original voice behind the musical movie’s smash hit single.
While Loren doesn’t appear in the film, she did provide the vocals for the iconic performance of the hit track.
Speaking in a statement regarding the fix accusations, a spokesperson for Britain’s Got Talent said: “Whilst most people will have heard the infamous Greatest Showman track, Loren is not a household name, and she deserves her spot on the BGT stage.
“It’s fantastic that Loren is now able to step out and stand in her own right to be the face, and not just the voice, of one of the most well-known tracks of all time.”
Axel Blake
(Image: ITV)
Comedian Axel Blake left viewers in stitches with his hilarious stand-up routine and bagged the coveted golden buzzer from head judge Simon Cowell.
But fans were left fuming after discovering the funnyman was already a pretty successful stand-up comedian with a show on one of the world’s biggest streaming platforms, Amazon Prime.
Fans took to social media to fume over the news, with one blasting: “Apparently that comedian has already got a stand-up show on Amazon Prime.
Yet another wasted golden buzzer. It’s an absolute fix. Tom Ball should’ve got the golden buzzer tonight. #BGT.”
Another added: “so last night there was a golden buzzer for a singer with a net worth of 2 million and a song in one of the biggest movies to ever exist and tonight’s golden buzzer was an award-winning comedian who has an amazon prime show???? wtf is happening this series #BGT.”
Nick Edwards
(Image: ITV)
Lovable dad Nick Edwards impressed the panel and the audience on Saturday night’s show, after being secretly entered into the competition by his two daughters, Savannah and Cali.
Fans struggled to believe that the dad really had no idea about the surprise audition, as his kids walked on the stage with their nan.
“When he was sat in the audience did he not wonder where his mum and kids were? He said they’d come on a day out together,” one viewer mused on Twitter, with another pointing out he was already wearing a microphone: “Complete surprise but he’s got a microphone on…Ok sure.”
(Image: ITV)
However, show bosses offered up a simple explanation as to why Nick was already mic’d up.
An official BGT spokesperson said: “When Nick entered the Palladium auditorium during BGT auditions, he was approached to be part of our ‘gogglebox’ audience and told he would be mic’d up so we could capture his reactions throughout the day as he sat in the audience.
“He was totally unsuspecting. We did this so we could mic him up without him suspecting a thing”.
IrShad Shaikh
(Image: PA)
After initially being branded “the worst impressionist” by judge Simon Cowell, the panel appeared to have a change of heart after they put IrShad through to the next despite getting four buzzers from the unimpressed panel.
The 57-year-old managed to win over the judges moments later when they allowed him to carry on with his routine and left the foursome and the crowd in stitches.
Following his initial disastrous audition, comedian David Walliams praised him, saying: “I actually thought it was really funny.
I thought it was funny because it was the least accurate impression I’d ever heard.”
Jasmine Elcock
(Image: PA)
Bagging a golden buzzer from Ant and Dec, 14-year-old Jasmine Elcock stunned the nation with a gorgeous performance of Cher’s Believe.
But some viewers were left debating whether she was eligible to be a contestant on the show after revealing her West End experience.
Before she took to the stage, she told audiences at home: “I’ve performed in Annie in the West End at about the age of nine or 10, but I really get nervous.
“My dad will always tell me to take three deep breaths. They’re very supportive as parents. If I won Britain’s Got Talent, it would be a dream come true.”
A spokesperson for the show defended Jasmine and her right to audition, saying: “Britain’s Got Talent is open to anyone irrespective of their past experience and all acts are auditioned on merit on the day.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
