The first two finalists of Britain’s Got Talent 2025 have been announced after a chaotic and dramatic semi-final debut on Saturday night.
Hosts Ant and Dec returned to the stage, presenting the ITV talent show’s first live broadcast from the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, marking a major change to the usual semi-final format. Unlike previous years, where the semi-finals took place nightly over one week, the 2025 series will air live each Saturday for six weeks as part of an extended schedule running into May.
Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli also resumed their seats for the live shows, while KSI, who briefly joined the panel during auditions, was absent but confirmed to return later in the series.
Seven semi-finalists performed on the opening night: Akira, Auzzy Blood, Eden Choi, Heavysaurus, Linda Mudzenda, The Blackouts, and Vinnie McKee. However, only two acts could advance to the final, with Vinnie McKee and The Blackouts securing their spots.
Musician Vinnie McKee won the public vote after his emotional operatic rendition of Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, which captivated both the judges and audience.
Meanwhile, The Blackouts were propelled straight into the final through a newly introduced Golden Buzzer during the live shows. Their visually striking dance and acrobatics performance, incorporating LED lights and imaginative scenes set to Runaway (U & I) by Galantis and A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay, earned them a standing ovation.
This year, in a first for BGT, each judge will have the opportunity to use the Golden Buzzer during the semi-finals, rather than just during auditions. The Golden Buzzer will send an act directly to the final, removing the need for a panel vote among the top three.
Amanda Holden had the honour of using the first live show Golden Buzzer, showering The Blackouts with gold confetti after audience chants of “Push the Gold!” filled the venue.
Praising the act, Holden said: “Your audition took our breath away, and this evening, it was even better, honestly. My heart soared for you.” Simon Cowell also commended the troupe, saying: “They were sensational. That is exactly the kind of act that I believe can win the entire series this year. They deserve it—it’s different, original, creative, amazing.”
Cowell even remarked that a slight technical delay, which forced The Blackouts to restart their performance, added to the authenticity and difficulty of their act.
However, the night was not without controversy. Young magician Teddy Magic, who was scheduled to perform, was a no-show.
Early in the evening, Ant and Dec informed viewers that the eight-year-old contestant was “not ready” to appear on stage. Despite hope from fans that he might perform later, it was later confirmed by Dec that Teddy had officially pulled out of the semi-final.
“Unfortunately, Teddy won’t be performing tonight but we hope to see him later in the series,” Dec told viewers.
Fans quickly took to social media to share their disappointment, with some branding the night a “shambles.” User @michellepryde called the semi-final “a shambles,” while @superTV247 added: “This show ran 5 nights a week seamlessly for years, now it’s a Saturday night and it’s all gone to pot.”
Despite the drama, the first semi-final proved to be an unforgettable launch for BGT 2025, with the competition already heating up ahead of the next round.
