Britain's Got Talent series 12

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Britain's Got Talent
Series 12
Presented by Ant McPartlin (ITV; auditions)
Dec Donnelly (ITV)
Stephen Mulhern (ITV2)
Judges David Walliams
Alesha Dixon
Amanda Holden
Simon Cowell
Winner Lost Voice Guy
Runner-upRobert White
Release
Original network ITV
ITV2 (BGMT)
Original release14 April (2018-04-14) 
3 June 2018 (2018-06-03)
Series chronology
 Previous
Series 11
Next 
Series 13
List of episodes
Judges and Presenter(s) for Britain's Got Talent Series 12
Anthony McPartlin (of Ant and Dec).jpg
Ant McPartlin(ITV1, Auditions Only)

The twelfth series of British talent competition programme Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV, from 14 April to 3 June 2018. For this series, the live episodes were broadcast from Hammersmith Apollo, and presented by Dec Donnelly only; while Ant McPartlin suspended his TV commitments on 19 March 2018, he still appeared in the audition episodes as these had already been filmed in January and February earlier that year. [1] Compared to previous years, this series featured a higher number of participants for the judges to select semi-finalists from, not counting those who received the Golden Buzzer, and saw the return of the Judges' Vote to the show's format.

The twelfth series was won by stand-up comedian Lost Voice Guy, with comic singer & pianist Robert White finishing in second place and singer Donchez Dacres third. During its broadcast, the series averaged 8.34 million viewers.

Series overview

Open auditions were held the previous year between October and December, before the Judges' auditions took place between January and February 2018, within the cities of Blackpool, London and Manchester. [2] This series is notable for the absence of Anthony McPartlin in the live episodes, after he stepped down from his TV commitments in the aftermath of a traffic accident on 18 March 2018 that he was involved in. While McPartlin still appeared during audition episodes on both Britain's Got Talent and Britain's Got More Talent, as these had already been filmed prior to the start of the series' broadcast, his colleague Declan Donnelly chose to present the live episodes without him, in the wake of his colleague's decision. [1]

This series saw a far higher number of participants making it through the first stage of auditions, than had been recorded in previous years - in addition to those receiving the Golden Buzzer, around 182 acts successfully reached the second stage. [3] Following the eleventh series, the judges' vote was brought back for the semi-finals, [3] [4] after Cowell admitted in June 2017 that he disliked its removal from the show's format. [5] Disruptions caused by bad weather resulted in the first live semi-final being taken off the air for a brief time, following the first performance, while a stage invader attempted to disrupt proceedings during the broadcast of the second live semi-final. [6]

Of the participants that took part, only forty made it into the five live semi-finals - of these acts, reggae singer Donchez Dacres, opera singer Gruffydd Wyn Roberts, singer-guitarists duo Jack & Tim, singer Lifford Shillingford, and magician Marc Spelmann, [7] each received a golden buzzer during their auditions - with eight appearing in each one, and eleven of these acts making it into the live final; the wildcard act chosen by the judges was B Positive Choir, after they lost out in the tied Judges' vote in the second semi-final. [8] The following below lists the results of each participant's overall performance in this series:

  Winner |   Runner-up |   Finalist |   Semi-finalist
Playing card club A.svg Judges' Wildcard Finalist | Yellow ffff00 pog.svg Golden Buzzer Audition
Participant [9] Age(s) 1 GenrePerformance TypeSemi-finalResult
Acrocadabra 2 9–17AcrobaticsAcrobatic Group3Eliminated
Aleksandar Mileusnić 23SingingSwing Singer3Eliminated
Amy Marie Borg16SingingOpera Singer4Eliminated
Andrew Lancaster32ComedyImpressionist2Eliminated
B Positive Choir Playing card club A.svg 22–62SingingChoir2Finalist
Baba Yega21–33DanceDance Group4Eliminated
Bring It North 2 10–11SingingBoy Band5Eliminated
Cali Swing9–14DanceSalsa Dance Group1Eliminated
Calum Courtney10SingingSinger2Finalist
DeMille & Muoneké 2 22 & 51SingingJazz Singing Duo5Eliminated
DMU Gospel Choir16–55SingingGospel Choir3Eliminated
Donchez Dacres Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 60SingingReggae Singer2Third Place
DVJ10–18DanceStreet Dance Group4Finalist
Ellie & Jeki29 & 34MagicQuick Change Duo1Eliminated
Father Ray Kelly 64SingingSinger5Eliminated
Futunity8–24DanceDance Group2Eliminated
Giang Brothers 29–33AcrobaticsHand Balancing Duo5Finalist
Gruffydd Wyn Roberts Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 22SingingOpera Singer3Finalist
Jack & Tim Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 12 & 43Singing / MusicSinging & Guitarist Duo4Finalist
Lexie & Christopher10 & 10DanceBallroom Dance Duo5Eliminated
Lifford Shillingford Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 42SingingSinger1Eliminated
Lost Voice Guy 37ComedyStand Up Comedian1Winner
Maddox Dixon31MagicClose Up Magician1Eliminated
Magus Utopia24–40MagicMagic Group2Eliminated
Mandy Muden55Comedy / MagicComic Magician5Eliminated
Marc Spelmann Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 46MagicMagician3Eliminated
Marty Putz55ComedyComedian & Inventor4Eliminated
Matt Johnson43DangerEscape Artist1Eliminated
Micky P Kerr36Comedy / Singing / MusicComic Singer & Guitarist5Finalist
Mr Uekusa 30VarietyNovelty Act3Eliminated
Nick Page47ComedyStand Up Comedian2Eliminated
Noel James52ComedyComedian4Eliminated
Olena Uutai31MusicJaw Harpist4Eliminated
Rise Unbroken 2 10–24DanceDance Group3Eliminated
Robert White41Comedy / Singing / MusicComic Singer & Keyboardist3Runner-Up
Ronan Busfield33SingingMusical Theatre Singer2Eliminated
Sarah Llewellyn32Acrobatics / SingingContortionist & Opera Singer5Eliminated
Sascha Williams29AcrobaticsRolla Bolla Acrobat4Eliminated
Shameer Rayes19DanceDancer1Eliminated
The D-Day Darlings27–39SingingVocal Harmony Group1Finalist

Semi-finals summary

Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Buzzed out | Crystal Clear app clean.svg Judges' vote |   Won the public vote
  Won the judges' vote |   Lost the judges' vote |   Eliminated

Semi-final 1 (28 May)

Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished [11]
CowellHoldenDixonWalliams
Cali Swing1Salsa Dance Group3.9%7th - Eliminated
Lifford Shillingford2Singer5.7%6th - Eliminated
Shameer Rayes3Dancer8.1%4th - Eliminated
Maddox Dixon4Close Up Magician Crystal Clear app clean.svg 13.5%3rd (Lost Judges' Vote)
Ellie & Jeki5Quick Change Duo Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 1.1%8th - Eliminated
Lost Voice Guy6Stand Up Comedian40.5%1st (Won Public Vote)
Matt Johnson 4 7Escape Artist5.9%5th - Eliminated
The D-Day Darlings8Vocal Group Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 21.3%2nd (Won Judges' Vote)
  • ^4 For health and safety reasons, Matt Johnson's semi-final performance required paramedics to be brought in as a precaution. [12]

Semi-final 2 (29 May)

Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished [11]
CowellHoldenDixonWalliams
B Positive Choir 5 1Choir Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 14.4%3rd (Judges' Vote tied – Lost on Public Vote)
Futunity2Dance Group12.4%4th - Eliminated
Calum Courtney3Singer Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 16.1%2nd (Judges' Vote tied – Won on Public Vote)
Andrew Lancaster4Impressionist6.4%7th - Eliminated
Nick Page5Stand Up Comedian Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 3.9%8th - Eliminated
Ronan Busfield6Musical Theatre Singer10.9%6th - Eliminated
Magus Utopia7Magic Group11.8%5th - Eliminated
Donchez Dacres8Reggae Singer24.1%1st (Won Public Vote)
  • ^5 B Positive Choir were later sent through to the final as the judges' wildcard.

Semi-final 3 (30 May)

Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished [11]
CowellHoldenDixonWalliams
Acrocadabra1Acrobatic Group3.7%6th - Eliminated
DMU Gospel Choir2Gospel Choir3.2%7th - Eliminated
Marc Spelmann3Magician Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 18.0%3rd (Judges' Vote tied – Lost on Public Vote)
Mr Uekusa4Novelty Act Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 2.9%8th - Eliminated
Aleksandar Mileusnić5Swing Singer9.4%4th - Eliminated
Robert White6Comic Singer & Keyboardist30.2%1st (Won Public Vote)
Rise Unbroken7Dance Group8.5%5th - Eliminated
Gruffydd Wyn Roberts8Opera Singer Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 24.1%2nd (Judges' Vote tied – Won on Public Vote)

Semi-final 4 (31 May)

Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished [11]
CowellHoldenDixonWalliams
Olena Uutai1Jaw Harpist3.1%8th - Eliminated
Amy Marie Borg2Opera Singer7.4%5th - Eliminated
Noel James3Comedian Crystal Clear app clean.svg 12.2%3rd (Lost Judges' Vote)
Baba Yega4Dance Group6.5%6th - Eliminated
Jack & Tim5Singing & Guitarist Duo Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 24.1%2nd (Won Judges' Vote)
Sascha Williams 6 6Rolla Bolla Acrobat8.9%4th - Eliminated
Marty Putz7Comedian & Inventor Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 5.2%7th - Eliminated
DVJ8Street Dance Group32.6%1st (Won Public Vote)

^6 For health and safety reasons, Sascha William's semi-final performance required fire extinguishers to be on standby as a precaution.

Semi-final 5 (1 June)

Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished [11]
CowellHoldenDixonWalliams
DeMille & Muoneké1Jazz Singing Duo9.1%6th - Eliminated
Lexie & Christopher2Ballroom Dance Duo5.8%7th - Eliminated
Micky P Kerr3Comic Singer & Guitarist21.5%1st (Won Public Vote)
Sarah Llewellyn4Opera Singer & Contortionist1.5%8th - Eliminated
Bring It North5Boy Band9.1%5th - Eliminated
Mandy Muden6Comic Magician Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 19.4%3rd (Judges' Vote tied – Lost on Public Vote)
Father Ray Kelly7Singer13.5%4th - Eliminated
Giang Brothers8Hand Balancing Duo Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg 20.1%2nd (Judges' Vote tied – Won on Public Vote)

Final (3 June)

  Winner |   Runner-up
FinalistOrderPerformance TypePercentageFinished [11]
Calum Courtney1Singer3.5%9th
The D-Day Darlings2Vocal Group7.1%7th
Jack & Tim3Singing & Guitarist Duo6.2%8th
Robert White4Comic Singer & Keyboardist17.2%2nd
B Positive Choir5Choir2.7%11th
Lost Voice Guy6Stand Up Comedian21.0%1st
Giang Brothers7Hand Balancing Duo9.5%5th
Gruffydd Wyn Roberts8Opera Singer11.2%4th
DVJ9Street Dance Group7.1%6th
Micky P Kerr10Comic Singer & Guitarist3.3%10th
Donchez Dacres11Reggae Singer11.2%3rd

Ratings

EpisodeAir date [13] Total viewers (millions) [14] ITV
Weekly rank [14]
Auditions 114 April10.981
Auditions 221 April10.501
Auditions 328 April11.481
Auditions 45 May9.611
Auditions 512 May9.551
Auditions 619 May9.041
Auditions 726 May7.834
Semi-final 128 May7.2212
Semi-final 1 results6.7214
Semi-final 229 May7.789
Semi-final 2 results6.1219
Semi-final 330 May8.128
Semi-final 3 results6.8013
Semi-final 431 May7.5611
Semi-final 4 results6.4018
Semi-final 51 June7.5810
Semi-final 5 results6.6315
Final3 June10.151

Criticism

Viewers criticised BGT's twelfth series over two separate matters. The first concerned one of the golden buzzers conducted in the auditions for the twelfth series for singer Lifford Shillingford as being a "fix". Viewers complained on social media that he maintained a close connection to judge Alesha Dixon, who provided the buzzer, and thus had an unfair advantage over other participants. Both Dixon and Shillingford denied the allegations, which focused on comments made by the judge over the singer's performance, clarifying that while they knew each other, it was through their mutual work in the music industry and not from a close friendship. [15] [16]

The second concerned the guest performance by the cast members of the musical Magic Mike for the live final. The complaint centered around the suitability of the performance for a "family-based show", including the nature of the performers' routines and the overall tone of the performance. In response, the broadcaster refuted the allegations against the guest performers involvement, making clear that the content had been checked thoroughly to ensure it was suitable for young viewers and had met strict "compliance guidelines". [17]

References

  1. 1 2 "Declan Donnelly to host Britain's Got Talent solo as Ant McPartlin temporarily 'steps down from his TV commitments' – ITV News". itv.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. "Britain's Got Talent 2018 auditions: Judges' audition dates, venues, tickets". 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Rory O'Connor (27 May 2018). "Britain's Got Talent 2018: MAJOR voting twist revealed in live final change". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. Frances Taylor (27 May 2018). "Britain's Got Talent reveals brand new voting twist for live shows". RadioTimes.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. Anna Francis (5 June 2017). "Simon Cowell reveals BIG change he's making to Britain's Got Talent and viewers aren't happy about it" . Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  6. Vicki Newman (1 June 2018). "All the Britain's Got Talent semi-final shockers and mishaps from technical difficulties to stage invaders and a missing presenter". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  7. "Britain's Got Talent 2018: Who are this year's Golden Buzzer acts?". Metro.co.uk. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  8. Natasha Sporn (2 June 2018). "Britain's Got Talent 2018: Wildcard act revealed as B-Positive Choir complete Sunday's grand final line-up". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  9. Frances Taylor (26 May 2018). "Britain's Got Talent 2018 semi-finalists: all 40 acts who made it through to live shows". RadioTimes.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "It's nearly time for the live BGT Semi-Finals! Here's ALL the info you need". ITV.com. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Britain's Got Talent 2018 voting percentages revealed!". ITV. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  12. Amy Johnson (1 June 2018). "Britain's Got Talent 2018 viewers fume as show hit by ANOTHER technical blunder". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  13. "When is the Britain's Got Talent 2018 final on TV?". Radio Times. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  15. Ben Lee (14 May 2018). "Britain's Got Talent star Alesha Dixon responds to Golden Buzzer controversy". DigitalSpy.com. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  16. Josh Darvill (14 May 2018). "Britain's Got Talent 2018: Alesha Dixon responds to golden buzzer controversy". tellymix.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  17. Peter Lloyd (3 June 2018). "Fury after male strippers appear on 'family show' BGT on same line-up as children: 'Feminists only complain when it's women'". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2018.