BRITAIN’S Got Talent fans have fumed that magician Jack Rhodes was “robbed” during last night’s final after a “predictable” result.
Singer Sydnie Christmas was crowned the winner after she wowed with her rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow at the Hammersmith Apollo.
She beat Jack Rhodes and Afronitaa who came in second and third place respectively.
But some viewers were left disappointed by the results and said Jack was their preferred winner.
One person wrote: “BGT Is singing really variety? Jack was robbed, he was much more entertaining.”
A second posted: “BGT Absolute joke! Singing was average at best, Innocent was FAR better and Jack was robbed. Many better acts, seems the rumours were true that Simon fixed the results.”
This viewer echoed: “So an already established singer just won BGT 2024, what a fix. Jack was robbed but they knew what they were doing when choosing the running order, not a coincidence both Jack and Sydnie were the last 2 acts and in the top 2 and Simon’s whole no professionals in the top 2 #BGT.”
“Jack was robbed! She’s already a professional singer with 45,000+ Spotify listener’s & fans who voted her to win,” a fourth shared.
Someone else said: “Sydnie performed last and won, this show is FIXED Jack Rhodes was Robbed.”
Last night, eleven finalists all took to the stage for one last time in a bid to win the top prize of £250,000 and a spot at the Royal Variety Performance later this year.
Alesha, 45, and Amanda, 53, dazzled on stage in metallic dresses alongside Simon, 64, and Bruno, 68.
Comedian Alex Mitchell had odds of 4/1 ahead of Sunday’s grand finale, with dance-duo Abigail and Afronitaa at 7/1.
Japanese jump rope group Haribow were outsiders with odds of 33/1 but were firm fan favourites.
Ahead of the winner being announced, Simon hit back at ‘fix’ claims that have plagued the show.
He told Ant and Dec and the live audience: “Winning is important, but, you know, getting into this final and importantly, doing something great, will actually make a difference.
“You know what was interesting? I worked out, I don’t think a single act tonight were professionals. They all had a regular job, yeah, and they did something extraordinary.”
As the winner of the series, Sydnie will take home the £250,000 cash prize and sing at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.
When Declan Donnelly asked how she felt after the win, Sydnie Christmas held her head in her hands as she struggled to speak.
“Oh, I don’t know what to say!” she finally uttered. “I cannot believe the amount of love that I felt since it aired… Oh my God, I am overwhelmed with love and it’s the most amazing thing.”
“It’s amazing, thank you so much!”
Britain's Got Talent's biggest 'fix' rows
Britain's Got Talent has been plagued with 'fix' rows over the years. How many of these do you remember?
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.
