Britain’s Got Talent has fired back after an audience member suggested a golden buzzer act was given a ‘secret advantage’.
The ITV show returns on Saturday where viewers will get to see the auditions which were filmed earlier this year.
One audience member – who was at the auditions both this year and last year – claimed some acts were given more rehearsal time than others.
They said certain acts rehearsed in front of the audience and then later went on to win the golden buzzer.
They claimed the same thing happened last year when dance act Ghetto Kids were given rehearsal time in front of the audience, with judge Bruno Tonioli later giving them his golden buzzer.
Britain’s Got Talent has fired back after an audience member suggested a golden buzzer act was given a ‘secret advantage’
One audience member – who was at the auditions both this year and last year – claimed some acts were given more rehearsal time than others
In a post seen by The Sun, they wrote: ‘I have an observation I went to the bgt opening last year and the bgt opening today.
At first I didn’t think anything much of it last year but it now seems to be a pattern from last year.
‘Last years opening before the opening warm up act the audience saw Ghetto Kids (Brunos golden buzzer rehearsing their audition on stage). No other act.
‘Today when the audience got inside the venue the audience saw a act rehearsing and being filmed on stage. No other act today, the act got the golden buzzer.’
However, a TV source told the publication that the audience member misunderstood how the production works.
They said: ‘Any act that requires a rehearsal on the day will get one, but the audience only come in at the last minute, so only see the final act perform.
‘It just so happened that on those days, the final rehearsing act may have got the golden buzzer, but of course that’s not always the case.
‘Comedian Axel Blake got a golden buzzer and went on to win in 2022, for example, but he didn’t rehearse on stage as often it’s only the big productions like dance acts and magicians that need to.’
They said certain acts rehearsed in front of the audience and then later went on to win the golden buzzer inlcuding last year’s Ghetto Kids
This year, it has already been revealed that there will be a total of nine golden buzzer moments – marking the most the show has ever seen.
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed this meant that the show took longer to film because the judges were ‘more chaotic’ than ever.
Discussing their antics, Dec said: ‘They’ve been even more badly behaved than before.
Ant added: ‘It’s not just the pressing of the Golden Buzzers numerous times, they’ve also played tricks on us.
‘Normally it’s us pranking the judges, but the tables have been turned this year and we weren’t expecting that. Naughty judges!’
They revealed that because of several rule breaks and generally anarchy, the show is taking longer to film.
Dec explained: ‘Everything takes a little bit longer to film now, because the judges have been so mischievous this year. There is definitely a sense of chaos, but they seem to be having a nice time.
Ant said: ‘We always liken this show to The Muppet Show, you know where you’ve got a show going on but there’s chaos backstage. There’s chaos backstage, chaos out the front, and chaos onstage… it’s just chaotic.’
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed this meant that the show took longer to film because the judges were ‘more chaotic’ than ever
Ant and Dec said their own Golden Buzzer act is something the audiences have ‘never seen before’ as they admitted they believe they could go all the way.
Despite most of the judges embracing the chaos, Alesha admitted that she has stuck to only pressing her golden buzzer once.
She explained that she felt pressing it more than once ‘takes away’ from the original act you have vouched for.
Alesha said: ‘I quite like following rules, which is very ironic. I’m very rebellious in my nature, but I do like a bit of structure. I only pressed my golden buzzer once because for me personally, it gives more value to the act that I’ve pressed it for.’
Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV at 7.30pm on Saturday April 20
