Britain’s Got Talent 2023 LIVE – Fans brand show 'highly irresponsible' as Amanda Holden eyes huge career change | The Sun

BRITAIN'S Got Talent viewers slammed the hit competition as "highly irresponsible" last week as the show returned for its 16th season.

Fans rushed to social media after American Thomas Vu undertook a truly eye-watering stunt.

The Britain's Got Talent hopeful left Simon and fellow judges Amanda Holden, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon stunned as he completed a Rubix Cube while engulfed in flames.

Fans were unimpressed, however, as one angry viewer wrote on Twitter: "Britain's Got Talent that was not a great idea putting the guy on the show setting him #onfire doing #rubikscube as kids will try recreate this by pouring lighter fluid on friends, highly irresponsible." And another added: "YOU SHOULD NOT BE SHOWING THIS #BGT it’s a No no no no no @Ofcom @BGT."

This comes as iconic BGT judge Amanda is reportedly eyeing a huge career move, with The Sun exclusively revealing she could ditch the UK for the US in the near future.

Read our BGT blog below for the latest news and updates…

  • Louis Allwood

    13-year-old magician leaves viewers in tears

    Viewers were blown away by 13-year-old Cillian who presented the judges with a magic act and opened up about his autism.

    He told the crowd how he wanted to bring them on his journey, as he said: “I’ve learned that having autism is not a disability, it’s an ability. When I was younger I was unable to interact with people, I felt incomplete, I felt invisible.

    “After discovering magic, it felt like my life changed, it felt like a lightbulb coming on inside my head and I found a way to interact with people through my magic.”

    The youngster received a standing ovation from the impressed crowd while the judges awarded him four yeses to get him through to the next round.

    Some people in the audience were left in tears as they cheered for Cillian who was also tearful as Simon Cowell said: “You are unbelievably talented. That absolutely freaked me out. There is something really incredible about you and I do believe in magic.”

  • Louis Allwood

    Audience to have more say as Simon Cowell teases eight Golden Buzzers

    Britain’s Got Talent auditions are underway and viewers are excited to see which acts will earn the prestigious Golden Buzzer.

    Judge Simon Cowell admitted that this year the audience will have more say in the judges’ decision and revealed that there are eight Golden Buzzers this series.

    Normally there’s one for each judge, however, Simon said: “I don’t want to give too much away. [But] there is one Golden Buzzer moment – it wasn’t really supposed to happen because we’d run out and it was kind of chaotic at this moment because the audience really did not let this go.

    “I thought, they’re not going to leave. So, we kind of said: ‘Why don’t we just give the audience a golden buzzer?’ and that’s what happened.”

  • Louis Allwood

    How a child star from BGT has now ventured down a new path

    Not all acts go on to make it big time after Britain’s Got Talent, and some just keep on leading a normal life.

    That is the story of Ronan Parke, who found fame on the ITV show 12 years ago in 2011 when he wowed the judges with his voice as he sang Someone’s Feeling Good.

    He finished runner-up against Jai McDowell and while he had a shot at fame, it’s believed that now he works at a top London restaurant.

    Ronan, who has amassed over 50 thousand followers on Instagram, was seen wearing a tailored suit working at Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair even though he was signed by Simon’s record label after finishing BGT.

    However, after a year, he was dropped and even though music isn’t his major career, he still released an album in 2018 called Found My Way and sometimes posts videos of him singing on YouTube.

  • Louis Allwood

    Bruno Tonioli on Simon Cowell’s dramatic transformation

    Simon Cowell has lost three stone in the last years after he made a dramatic transformation to his diet and lifestyle.

    Newest judge Bruno Tonioli opened up on Simon’s weight loss with The Sun’s TV Mag: “Well, he’s lost a lot of weight and he told me has a cook because he has a very special diet and he’s started really taking care of himself because you know he had this terrible accident.

    “And when things like that happen, it’s a wake-up call. You reassess things and think: ‘I’d better take care of myself.’ He’s lost a lot of weight and he’s got a chef that prepares the most delicious little cookies and things that are all healthy stuff – actually, I should have nicked them!

    “Basically, if you look after yourself, that’s what happens.”

    In August 2020, Simon suffered a horrifying incident which almost left him paralysed after he broke his back in several places when he fell from an electric bike he was testing in his Malibu home.

  • Louis Allwood

    Why isn’t David Walliams a judge this year?

    For the first time in a decade, comedian David Walliams will not be judging various acts on Britain’s Got Talent after he left the show amid controversy which saw him issue an apology.

    It was revealed that he described an elderly contestant as “a c***” and made terrible remarks about a woman on the show in 2020.

    The remarks were revealed in 2022, and said to be: “She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don’t… It’s the last thing on your mind, but she’s like, ‘Yep, I bet you do!’”

    Sources told The Sun that David felt it was time to “move on” as they said: “David has decided to bow out after a ten-year run. He wants to leave on a high after a wonderful time.

    “Being on the show has been a huge source of entertainment and joy for him and he is arguably the most popular member of the panel. His team have quietly been having conversations over the past few days where it has been made clear that David is readying himself to step down – and then producers will start to think about who might replace him.

    “His exit might not be popular with fans who adore him. But for David it appears that now, after an amazing ten years on the show, it is the right time to move on.”

  • Louis Allwood

    What prize does the winner of Britain’s Got Talent get?

    There are two parts to the Britain’s Got Talent prize in 2022.

    First, is the huge cash prize of £250,000 – this sum has been the same since 2013.

    Prior to this the first five winners were given £100k, but Ashleigh and Pudsey benefitted from the most generous year scooping £500,000 in 2012.

    The BGT 2022 winner is also offered the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

    This part of the prize remains unchanged since the first series aired in 2007.

  • Louis Allwood

    Simon believes you do not need to win anymore to become a household name

    Ahead of the launch of BGT’s 16th series, the head judge said he doesn’t believe you even need to win the contest anymore to become a household name.

    He said: “Where things have changed a lot from where we started is it always used to be about the end prize.

    “Now a good audition that goes viral can open so many doors, that’s what makes us stand out from other shows.

    “I really like it when someone’s brilliant and they’ve got a regular day job, because that adds an extra level to what they’re doing and has people talk about the act afterwards.

    “I learned that when Susan Boyle was on the show.”

  • Louis Allwood

    Bruno Tonioli on how he really got the BGT judge role

    Bruno Tonioli told The Sun’s TV Mag about how he really bagged the judge position at this year’s Britain’s Got Talent.

    He said: “The truth is I came back to do my wonderful number, my Christmas song for Strictly, to say goodbye to everyone – because we’re all friends  – and I didn’t have a clue about Britain’s Got Talent.

    “A meeting was called on the 13th of January with ITV bosses and production etc, I got in and they said: Britain’s Got Talent. I said well, it’s Simon, it’s Alesha, it’s Amanda, they’re all friends – of course, if you want me to. I’ll do it.”

    He continued: “They had to speak to Simon and then a few days later it happened and ten days later it was live and we were filming. It all happened so quickly and it was incredible.

    “The truth of the matter is, years and years ago we had discussions because Simon and I have the same agent in America and some approaches were made but at the time I was doing two seasons of Dancing With The Stars a year and it would have clashed. It wasn’t feasible.

    “So it was destiny, it was meant to happen and bang, straight in, we had a ball. It was so exciting.”

  • Louis Allwood

    Perri Kiely breaks silence on new romance

    BGT and Diversity star Perri Kiely has broken his silence on his new romance after his split from ex Laura Smith.

    Back in January the 27-year-old sparked rumours that the couple had gone their separate ways, and a month later the rumours were confirmed.

    Perri has since found love again.

    When asked about his dating life at the launch party of Ashley Banjo's new range with Peacocks, Ashley Banjo: Approved, the dancer opened up about his new

    "I actually have a girlfriend," Perri exclusively told The Sun.

    When asked how they met, he replied: "Just in this industry."

  • Louis Allwood

    Britain’s Got Talent fix row

    Britain’s Got Talent finds itself in a fix row as it’s been revealed that one half of Japanese yo-yo whizzes Toy Toy Toy, who performed amazing tricks with the classic toys, has a history with Simon Cowell.

    Shu Takada, 26, reached the semi-finals of America's Got Talent last year and had Simon applauding on his feet.

    The talent became a yo-yo world champion aged just 15 and has made TV appearances on Blue Peter and This Morning in the UK.

  • Louis Allwood

    Amanda Holden vows to keep wearing racy dresses on Britain’s Got Talent despite Ofcom complaints

    Amanda Holden has vowed to continue wearing racy dresses on Britain’s Got Talent – despite sparking thousands of Ofcom complaints from viewers outraged over her flashing the flesh.

    Speaking to The Mirror the BGT judge said: “I am thinking more rubber. I enjoyed wearing latex in the audition and I am thinking more latex in their lives.

    “More latex and more sweating!”

    The BGT judge now regularly takes to Instagram to share her outfits with followers.

  • Louis Allwood

    Furious fans complain to Ofcom after controversial act sets himself on fire

    Furious Britain's Got Talent fans have complained to Ofcom after the TV show broadcast footage of a man on fire during a Rubik's Cube challenge.

    Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon couldn't believe their eyes as American performer Thomas Vu performed his dangerous stunt on stage.

    The hopeful contestant went on to solve a Rubik's cube while he was on fire – and completed it without getting hurt, securing a spot in the next round.

    But many viewers have slammed the performance as "irresponsible" and feared that young children you replicate the daredevil stunt – despite issuing a warning which read 'do not try this at home'.

    One fumed: "Think that stuntman at the end may get a few OFCOM complaints for #bgt.''

    But not all fans disapproved of the act.

    One said on Twitter: "Wow that was flaming insane I can’t believe he set himself on fire while doing the Rubik's cube trick and pulled it off great work that looked so dangerous then ever before."

  • Louis Allwood

    Fans not thrilled with BGT’s editing

    As Britain’s Got Talent returned to our screens, fans all had the same complaint about the show’s editing – branding it “awful.”

    Viewers were frustrated with the producers, with one pointing out: “Why do they show the audience, judges and Ant and Dec more than the acts? Not to mention the ridiculous slo-mo shots. Both the editing and production are horrendous.”

    Another added: “The awful editing and manipulation of the audience reactions to everything is already jarring,” while one chimed in: “#BGT better in the early years, less editing and no scripts in place to enhance acts @ITV.”

  • Louis Allwood

    Where is Lagi Andreas now?

    Michalakis 'Lagi' Andreas soared to fame in 2009 alongside his father as the duo Stavros Flatley at the age of 13.

    The pair finished fourth behind Susan Boyle and the eventual winner, dance group Diversity.

    Following their stint on the show, they appeared on ITV's Sugar Free Farm, where celebrity contestants were challenged to take on a sugar-free diet.

    Now 27, he married his wife Annika in 2022 in a lavish ceremony in Cyprus – that same year, they welcomed their first child, a daughter called Xenia.

  • Louis Allwood

    Where is Charlie Wernham now?

     Charlie Wernham made it to the semi-finals when he appeared on the 2008 edition of Britain's Got Talent.

    Since then, Wernham has gone on to have a successful acting career.

    His first taste of the silver screen came in an appearance on Channel 4's The Inbetweeners.

    He soon got a role in E4's School of Comedy before becoming a regular in Bad Education alongside Jack Whitehall.

    Charlie, 28, even rose to co-lead the show with Layton Williams for its fourth season and played Aaron Monroe on EastEnders for 36 episodes.

  • Louis Allwood

    Ashleigh and Pudsey stole the show in 2012

    Pudsey passed away in 2017, and Ashleigh now performs with her new dog, Sully.

    Before Pudsey sadly died, he had a showbiz career staring in TV, theatre and film.

    In 2014, the film Pudsey The Dog: The Movie was released.

  • Louis Allwood

    Catch up on Britain’s Got Talent

    Viewers were left BUZZING over the weekend as Britain Got Talent returned to screens.

    If you missed any of the global acts and the iconic golden buzzer – the good news is there’s a way to catch up on all the latest from BGT.

    Simply head over to ITVX or STV Player to watch series 16 so far.

  • Louis Allwood

    Best Britain’s Got Talent golden buzzer contestants

    During series eight viewers were introduced to the golden buzzer – and it has been an integral part of the show ever since.

    Here we take a look at some of the shows most memorable golden buzzer moments – how many do you remember?

    • Calum Scott – Simon’s choice, series nine
    • Boogie Storm – Simon’s choice, series 10
    • Marc Spelmann – Ant and Dec’s choice, series 12
    • Kojo Anim – Simon’s choice, series 13
    • Honey and Sammy – Amanda’s choice, series 14

    Shy Sheffield busker reveals there are chaotic secret changes until the last minute at auditions 

    Fans of the show will remember shy Sheffield busker Maxwell Thorpe for coming second in last year’s contest to comedian Axel Blake.

    He stunned the judges, in a Susan Boyle style, with his incredible baritone voice after nervously introducing himself.

    Now, as the series returns, the the singer, 33, tells The Sun what really goes on behind the scenes – all the way from the auditions to the final itself.

    He says: “The producers rang and were like ‘we’ve got Nessun Dorma and we’ve got Caruso, what would you like to sing?’ And I just thought, I’ll go big. I’ll do Nessun Dorma.

    So I replied, ‘Let’s do Nessun Dorma’.

    “It was agreed and then they messaged me later saying ‘Actually can you do Caruso?’ So I agreed and I think it was the right decision in hindsight.”

    Maxwell was also sent off to buy new clothes because he’d turned up to do the televised audition in all black – something producers said wouldn’t work on camera.

    Read more here.

    Golden Blunder

    BGT fans couldn’t believe it when Bruno pressed the Golden Buzzer in the middle of the Ghetto Kids’ performance – instead of at the end.

    A shocked Simon Cowell asked him: “Have you even watched the show?”

    What Alan Carr told Simon Cowell after Bruno Tonioli was chosen as BGT judge

    Alan Carr lost the race to be BGT judge to Bruno Tonioli and Simon Cowell have now revealed what the comedian told him after the decision.

    Reports suggested that Carr was being backed by Amanda Holden even though she gets on like a house on fire with Tonioli, who was being supported by Simon Cowell.

    The BGT creator said: “I think she was ­disappointed because they are really good friends. In fact I saw Alan a couple of days after Bruno was announced and, you know, he was really cool about it.

    “He said, ‘I totally understand, that’s showbusiness.’ Either would have worked. Both of them met the series ­producers. I said to them, ‘Look, you have to take the final decision  yourselves’.

    “They said we are going with Bruno and I said fine. I’m sure Alan would have been brilliant and I know Alan, but not as well as Bruno. He was just a completely ­natural fit on the show.”

    • Louis Allwood

      Where is Britain’s Got Talent star Charlie Wernham now?

      Although he received a mixed bag of comments throughout his time on the show, Charlie Wernham made it to the semi-finals in 2008.

      After his taste of fame, he began attending weekend classes at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and soon landed a role on an episode of The Inbetweeners.

      He soon got a role in E4’s School of Comedy before becoming a regular in Bad Education alongside Jack Whitehall.

      Charlie, 28, even rose to co-lead the show with Layton Williams for its fourth season and played Aaron Monroe on EastEnders for 36 episodes.

    • Henry Moore

      Simon believes you do not need to win anymore to become a household name

      Ahead of the launch of BGT’s 16th series, the head judge said he doesn’t believe you even need to win the contest anymore to become a household name.

      He said: “Where things have changed a lot from where we started is it always used to be about the end prize.

      “Now a good audition that goes viral can open so many doors, that’s what makes us stand out from other shows.

      “I really like it when someone’s brilliant and they’ve got a regular day job, because that adds an extra level to what they’re doing and has people talk about the act afterwards.

      “I learned that when Susan Boyle was on the show.”

    • Henry Moore

      Why isn't David Walliams a judge this year?

      For the first time in a decade, comedian David Walliams will not be judging various acts on Britain's Got Talent after he left the show amid controversy which saw him issue an apology.

      It was revealed that he described an elderly contestant as "a c***" and made terrible remarks about a woman on the show in 2020.

      The remarks were revealed in 2022, and said to be: "She's like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don't… It's the last thing on your mind, but she's like, 'Yep, I bet you do!'"

      Sources told The Sun that David felt it was time to "move on" as they said: "David has decided to bow out after a ten-year run. He wants to leave on a high after a wonderful time.

      "Being on the show has been a huge source of entertainment and joy for him and he is arguably the most popular member of the panel. His team have quietly been having conversations over the past few days where it has been made clear that David is readying himself to step down – and then producers will start to think about who might replace him.

      "His exit might not be popular with fans who adore him. But for David it appears that now, after an amazing ten years on the show, it is the right time to move on."

    • Henry Moore

      What prize does the winner of Britain's Got Talent get?

      There are two parts to the Britain's Got Talent prize in 2022.

      First, is the huge cash prize of £250,000 – this sum has been the same since 2013.

      Prior to this the first five winners were given £100k, but Ashleigh and Pudsey benefitted from the most generous year scooping £500,000 in 2012.

      The BGT 2022 winner is also offered the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

      This part of the prize remains unchanged since the first series aired in 2007.

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