Britain's Got Talent viewers were left fuming and outraged after a performance widely described as 'cringe and awful' advanced to the next round, with many attributing the decision to the contestant's apparent friendship with presenters Ant and Dec. The ITV show's auditions continued last weekend, but fans were not pleased with all of the judges' final decisions, leading to accusations of unfairness and rigging.
Controversial Audition in Blackpool
At Blackpool's Winter Gardens, MC Tazo, whose real name is Kevin Hogg, performed for judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI. Prior to his audition, the performer was shown greeting the presenters Ant and Dec backstage, where Ant, 50, told him: 'We can't pretend that we don't know you because we are big fans of yours.' He continued, saying to the Gateshead-based act: 'Let's get you on [stage] … we are big fans.'
Performance and Mixed Reactions
Upon arriving on stage, Kevin switched into his MC Tazo alter-ego and performed a rap. He delivered lines including: 'When I say Britain's got you say talent,' to which the crowd echoed back: 'Talent!' However, by the end of his performance, he had received red buzzers from both Amanda and Alesha, indicating their disapproval.
KSI was far more enthusiastic, having been up dancing, as he and Simon each gave MC Tazo a 'yes' vote. Typically, auditioning acts require a majority vote of three 'yes' to advance to the next stage. With this in mind, Ant and Dec appeared on stage and asked: 'Can we just give a yes that's three yeses?' Simon ultimately agreed, saying: 'Okay, right, we will change the rules. Two yeses, four yeses, you’re through.' Consequently, the presenters and MC Tazo were all left thrilled as they departed the stage together.
Viewer Backlash on Social Media
Some viewers were not too happy with this unusual decision. One wrote on X: 'BGT picking and choosing who to push because MC TAZO was awful and he’s a cringe.' Another commented: 'This is what you call rigging to the max.' A third said: 'Thanks to Ant and Dec, MC Tazo is through.' While a fourth chimed in: 'Ok, so acts now get through because they’re mates with the presenters…?' Many fans took to social media to share their reactions, with numerous posts expressing disappointment and frustration over the perceived bias.
Golden Buzzer Moments
This controversy comes as head judge Simon, 66, used the prestigious Golden Buzzer for incredible singer Matty Juniosa in Saturday's jam-packed episode. Matty became the second act of the night sent through to the final after Ant and Dec also hit their buzzer for autistic comedian Ted Hill just a few moments prior. The energetic musician showed off his amazing vocals as he belted out a 1984 track, leaving the judges speechless.
Amanda Holden said: 'I thought that was a fantastic performance and I can see how much you want it.' Simon added: 'You are the kind of artist where you put eight spoonfuls of sugar in your tea, you put about ten thousand in.' He continued: 'This is the biggest reaction I think we have had from anyone,' before hitting the buzzer. Matty fell to his knees as confetti fell around him before he burst out in tears at the incredible response.
Other Notable Acts
Just minutes before, Ant and Dec had hit the Golden Buzzer for comedian Ted Hill. During the show, emotional scenes saw the presenting duo walk up behind the judges and hit the button for the 31-year-old contestant, sending him straight through to the final and leaving supporters in the audience in tears. After his quirky, yet very clever performance, Ted wowed all four judges but it was hosts Ant and Dec who were really left blown away by his act.
Ted explained: 'I'm here to combine my analytical weird brain with my love for stand-up comedy. I'm here to talk to you about my special interests. First, I'm going to address the elephant in the room, I am a very autistic man...' He then launched into a hilarious presentation about the phonetic alphabet which left both Amanda and KSI in hysterics. KSI said: 'You are so funny, you were just on a roll.' Amanda added: 'It has blown my mind, it was completely unexpected... so intelligent' before she was interrupted by Ant and Dec reaching over and hitting the buzzer.
Season Highlights
Ted and Matty follow the likes of Jeremy Clarkson's farming choir, who received Amanda's buzzer last week, as well as the act Antigravity, who created a video game on stage. Simon was the first judge to press the buzzer in the opening episode for athlete Paul Nunnari and his wheelchair stunts, while KSI awarded the second to 16-year-old magician Rafferty Coope. Britain's Got Talent airs Saturdays on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX, continuing to deliver a mix of talent and controversy that keeps viewers engaged and debating.
