Simon Cowell breaks Britain’s Got Talent rules to create special tear-jerking moment
Simon makes the rules!
Simon Cowell decided to launch the Britain’s Got Talent rulebook out of the window to create a moment that left views in floods of tears.
Returning to our screens for the latest instalment of the ITV reality contest, Simon was joined by fellow judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli tonight, as well as special guest KSI.
They were treated to a whole host of diverse auditions, including a truly powerful performance by a group of people who are neurodivergent and have learning disabilities.
Electric Umbrella, a musical charity group from Watford of various ages, took to the mics to empower ‘learning disabled and neurodivergent people through creativity and connection’.
They sang a track they wrote themselves, calling for ‘acceptance,’ and were praised by the whole panel.
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Singer Alesha said there were ‘so many amazing people on stage,’ and hailed the ‘incredible job’ they did.
The BGT judges were amazed by musical group Electric Umbrella’s powerful performance (Picture: ITV)Music mogul Simon added that, with the number of their performers, he thought they were ‘the biggest act [they’ve] had this year,’ and gave them a standing ovation, along with the audience.
Despite deafening chants from the crowd to push the coveted Golden Buzzer, which sends an act straight through to live shows, Simon, 65, admitted that he didn’t have any more to use.
‘I feel a wave of goodness here,’ he began.
‘Everything about this was good. Look, the only downside to this is, I don’t have any Golden Buzzers left.’
However, in a magical moment, the TV judge decided to defy the format and press it anyway, sending confetti raining down onto the stage.
His fellow judges were left in shock at the bold move before Simon ran up to hug and shake hands with the group.
The music mogul pressed his Golden Buzzer – despite not having any left (Picture: ITV)Taking to X after witnessing the emotional moment, @TBluenose described the musicians as ‘brilliant’, while @SWM59886144 said their ‘joy is infectious’.
‘Electric Umbrella had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time, what a fabulous song for a fabulous group of people! May not be “golden buzzer worthy” for some people, but in my opinion, they deserved that’, added @Jadestevensxx.
‘Wow “Electric Umbrella” on @BGT , brought a tear to my eye. What an act and what the shows all about’, wrote @Prestonphonebox.
Their rule-breaking Golden Buzzer comes after intense backlash from viewers this series about when the honour should be awarded.
Earlier on, social media users argued that the show becomes less authentic when a Golden Buzzer is given purely because an audience demands it.
Complaints were first sparked when the judges succumbed to peer pressure to press the buzzer for Vinnie McKee, a singer from Scotland who performed an unusual operatic cover of The Proclaimers hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli did not see it coming (Picture: ITV)@shanlouiiseee tweeted at the time: ‘i haaaaate when the crowd chants for the golden buzzer on every act.. he’s amazing but not golden buzzer amazing’.
‘The golden buzzer has become a joke. The randomness of it has stopped, now the audience decide. It’s taken the surprise element out’, raged @blithespirit_.
Elsewhere this weekend, other praised acts included magician and dance teacher Jannick Holste, who made dancers appear from various locked cages while delivering an over-the-top flamboyant routine to Spice Girl hit Spice Up Your Life.
Ex-Strictly judge Bruno called it a ‘magical camp extravaganza,’ while Simon – who previously saw the act on America’s Got Talent, said the dancing was ‘pretty awful,’ but admitted it was ‘hilarious.’
‘People in this country are going to like you. I think you’re going to do really well,’ he complimented.
Comment nowDo you think you’ve seen the winner of BGT 2025 yet?Comment Now What a moment! The hopefuls celebrated as golden confetti rained down onto the stage (Picture: ITV)Also going through to the next round is singer Mickey Callisto, synchronised dance group and Italy’s Got Talent stars Ping Pong Pang Crew, and Red Panda’s unicycle balancing act.
Mickey, from Sunderland, who said he wants to ‘buy [his] nan a stairlift’ if he wins the £250,000 prize money, wowed the judges with a rendition of a vocal-led version of Queen’s hit Who Wants to Live Forever.
Alas, those unsuccessful in their auditions included Soto The Nutcracker, who uses his body to break nuts and was on Spain’s Got Talent 2016, impressionist Max The Robot, a recorder performer, and Italian act Williams Sanchez – who makes his eyes bulge.
Britain’s Got Talent continues on ITV1 and ITVX next Saturday at 7pm.
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