Viewers slap Britain’s Got Talent with major complaint after emotional golden buzzer moment
Fans are divided.
Britain’s Got Talent is back on our screens for another year, which means viewers have more opinions than ever on what works… and what really doesn’t.
The first episode saw social media sensation KSI join Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon behind the judges’ table, temporarily sitting in for Bruno Tonioli.
In true BGT fashion, the new instalment got off to an emotional start as a singer from Scotland wowed the audience with his powerful voice.
Vinnie McKee’s unusual operatic cover of The Proclaimers hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) had the crowd on their feet, wildly chanting for one of the judges to award him the coveted Golden Buzzer, which sends acts straight through to the live shows.
Never one to deny the live audience and ‘fifth judge,’ music mogul Simon was happy to press the button, leaving 29-year-old holiday rep Vinnie visibly teary as he later declared ‘Things like this don’t happen to people like me.’
However, despite the show-stealing audition, viewers had complaints, taking to X to argue the show becomes less authentic when the Golden Buzzer is given purely because an audience demands it.
29-year-old singer Vinnie McKee wowed the audience with his powerful voice (Picture: ITV) Amanda Holden could barely hear herself talk as the crowd chanted (Picture: ITV) The live audience demanded a Golden Buzzer to send Vinnie through to the live shows (Picture: ITV)‘I think I’d prefer to have a surprise golden buzzer, rather than have the crowd force it for me’, wrote CourtneyR_Green.
Suggesting that Vinnie simply should’ve been given four yeses instead, shanlouiiseee wrote: ‘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’, ragedblithespirit_.
‘So now the golden buzzer has become an audience “who shouts the loudest” competition?’, asked PhilipCDodd.
Suggesting the judges had to succumb to peer pressure, ggvhgtu posted: ‘The audience need to shut up. They got that poor man’s hopes up and then the judges had no choice but to use their golden buzzer’.
Others argued that it was ‘daft’ for the judges to start using a Golden Buzzer ‘so early on,’ given that they are typically only allowed one each.
Simon Cowell happily pressed the buzzer in a moment that later divided those watching at home (Picture: ITV) The holiday park rep was tearful as he soaked up the applause (Picture: ITV) Comment nowDo you believe the audience should decide who gets a Golden Buzzer?Comment NowHowever, in recent series, the rules have seemingly gone out of the window as multiple Golden Buzzers have been handed out to acts with star quality.
The backlash comes after Simon said Vinnie’s performance left him ‘speechless’.
Alesha added: ‘The feeling I had when listening to you sing is that you were really fighting. Throughout that whole audition, you were trying to prove yourself and you really, really did. Well done.’
KSI praised Vinnie for how he ‘blew everyone away’, calling his audition ‘outstanding.’
‘Your voice is just superb,’ declared Amanda, practically drowned out by hundreds of ‘Push the gold!’ chants.
Vinnie then explained that he began working as a holiday camp performer when he was just 18, having only previously worked as a bingo caller.
Viewers took to X with complaints (Picture: X) The urged the audience to stop influencing the Golden Buzzer (Picture: X) Fans claim the ‘surprise’ element has gone (Picture: X) People were clearly unhappy (Picture: X)Asked by Simon if he’d ever trained as a singer, he said he’s ‘sang since a young age’.
The pair shared a sweet moment as golden confetti rained down on the stage, Simon hugging Vinnie and telling him: ‘That’s what it’s all about.’
But while Vinnie was the first act awarded a Golden Buzzer tonight, he wasn’t the last.
Impressionist Will Burns was also given the honour as hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were left in stitches during his audition, which featured impressions of Gary Barlow and Marcus Bentley.
Again, the audience cheered and chanted for the Golden Buzzer to be used, resulting in Ant and Dec running out onto the stage and doing the honours before Will lept into the air to celebrate.
In tears afterwards, the comedian and self-proclaimed BGT superfan told the Geordie duo: ‘You’ve just changed my life.’
Comedy impressionist Will Burns received the second Golden Buzzer of the night, which also divided fans (Picture: ITV) Ant and Dec did the honours (Picture: ITV) The auditionee was overjoyed, having been a longtime fan of the talent show (Picture: ITV)The judges proceeded to shower the weeping star with compliments, as Amanda said: ‘Your timing was impeccable; that was bloody excellent.’
‘You deserve the Golden Buzzer,’ said Bruno.
‘It was so smart, so funny, I’m actually annoyed [Ant and Dec] pressed it… They’re gonna be so smug and unbearable,’ Simon joked.
Again, the Golden Buzzer moment split the internet in two, with many believing it was a worthy one, while others claimed the judges have peaked too soon.
Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturdays on ITV1 and ITVX.
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