THE BRITAIN’S Got Talent judges were left shocked tonight when their kids invaded the panel to select their own Golden Buzzer.
Each of the judges had two picks this series but with all their choices used up, tonight’s real final auditionees, skipping group Haribow, had to impress everyone to get through.
However – that changed when Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden’s children ran up on stage and hit the buzzer on behalf of the audience.
The ITV talent show returned on Sunday, with judges Cowell, Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli, and presenters Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – and the last few hopefuls for the semi-final week were revealed.
During the episode, Japanese skipping dancers Haribow, who somersaulted across the stage doing various tricks, left the judges almost speechless.
They received a standing ovation from the audience and numerous pleas for a golden buzzer, which would put them straight through to the semi-finals and are generally used only by the judges and hosts, from the BGT fans.
The audience chanted so loudly for the Golden Buzzer that the judges couldn’t be heard even when using their microphones.
Alesha said she had “none left” regarding the buzzers along with Tonioli, while Cowell said that he “did not know what to say”.
“My son is literally going crazy right now,” Cowell added.
His son Eric, who he shares with wife Lauren Silverman, then went over and pushed the buzzer along with Holden’s daughter Hollie, who she shares with record producer husband Chris Hughes.
“Hollie!” shouted Amanda as she saw what was about to happen.
The kids ran up onto the stage, around the judges and hit the Golden Buzzer to huge applause from the audience.
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Jasmine Elcock – 2016: Teenage singer Jasmine Elcock stunned the nation with her version of Cher’s Believe. But it then transpired she had already performed professionally in London’s West End. Jasmine, 14, admitted: “I’ve performed in Annie in the West End at about the age of nine or 10, but I really get nervous.”
IrShad Shaikh – 2017: BGT fans were left questioning the rule book when IrShad Shaikh auditioned. He got four red buzzers from the judges, which would usually mean an instant dismissal. Yet in a strange turn of events, they let him continue with his act…and put him through to the next round.
Colin Thackery – 2019: Elderly war veteran Colin won BGT in 2019, but there was an outcry over the final. He warbled his place to win with a version of We’ll Meet Again but fans were furious that escapologist Jonathan Goodwin didn’t even rank in the top three. Viewers felt Jonathan – who almost suffocated while being buried alive in a gravel pit – should have won.
Axel Blake – 2022: Comedian Axel Blake was given a Golden Buzzer in 2022 after making the judges laugh. But fans were fuming when they discovered Axel already had a show on worldwide streaming platform Amazon Prime. Despite this, Axel still went on to win the series.
Loren Allred – 2022: The 2022 series of BGT was hit with another controversy when singer Loren Allred also received a Golden Buzzer. She performed Never Enough from the smash hit musical movie The Greatest Showman and got a standing ovation. It later transpired Loren was actually the original voice behind the track.
Taryn Charles – 2024: Singer Taryn Charles is one of this year’s hopefuls lucky enough to receive the Golden Buzzer. Bruno Tonilio put her straight through to the semi-finals following her performance of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin, but it has now come to light that she is no stranger to TV. Viewers recognised Taryn from an episode of ITV1’s Starstruck, where she impersonated Whitney Houston for judges Olly Murs, Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert and Beverley Knight.
“They pressed it for the audience,” Holden said before calling the dancers “unbelievable”.
Congratulating the dance troupe, Donnelly told them: “That’s never happened before.”