Britain's Got Talent series 19

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Britain's Got Talent
Series 19
Presented by Ant & Dec
Judges Simon Cowell
Amanda Holden
Alesha Dixon
KSI
Stacey Solomon (guest)
WinnerThe Hawkstone Farmers Choir
Runner-upCelestial
Release
Original network ITV1
Original release21 February (2026-02-21) –
30 May 2026 (2026-05-30)
Season chronology
← Previous
Series 18
Next →
Series 20
List of episodes

The nineteenth series of British talent competition programme Britain's Got Talent began airing on ITV1 on 21 February 2026. [1] Filming for the auditions began in October 2025 in Birmingham and Blackpool. The series is presented by Ant & Dec, with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon returning as judges, alongside KSI, who replaced Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel following his departure after three series. [2] [3]

Contents

The series concluded on 30 May 2026, and was won by The Hawkstone Farmers Choir, with drone display group Celestial finishing as runner-up and dog act Anastasiia & Salsa finishing in third place. It marks the first time a choir has ever won the show.

Judges and presenter(s) for Britain's Got Talent series 19

Series overview

During the previous series, it was announced that the show would return for a nineteenth series with auditions opening whilst it was airing. [4] In July 2025, it was announced that Bruno Tonioli had decided to quit the show after three years, due to his commitments as a judge on Dancing with the Stars in the United States. [5] [6] He was subsequently replaced by KSI, who was a guest judge on the previous series and joined Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon on the judging panel. [7] [8]

Auditions for the series began on 3 October 2025 at the Birmingham Hippodrome. [9] [10] Auditions were originally planned to start filming the day prior, however Cowell suffered a fall and a head injury, so that day's tapings were called off. Stacey Solomon served as a guest judge in his place on the first filming day, and he would later return for the second day in Birmingham (4 October 2025), ending a two day stint in the Hippodrome. The auditions would then move to the Winter Gardens, Blackpool the following week. [11] [12] [13]

The series began on 21 February 2026, and as in the previous series, would air weekly, excluding 14 March due to ITV airing live coverage of the final match weekend of the 2026 Six Nations Championship. Additionally, the 4th Semi-Final of the show would be broadcast from 6 - 8 rather than 7 - 9 on 16 May, in order to avoid clashing with the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final airing at 8. [14] There was a slight controversy over a last minute rule change from Cowell that allowed for Kevin Hogg to go through to the next round, after he received a split decision from the panel (with Dixon and Holden voting 'no', whilst KSI and Cowell voted 'yes'). Normally this would mean acts are eliminated, however Cowell allowed the presenters Ant & Dec to cast 'yes' votes also, subsequently allowing Hogg through. This was seen as unfair by viewers, as other acts, possibly more talented than Hogg, did not get this opportunity. [15]

For the first time since series 14, there was no wildcard act in the final.

  Winner
  Runner-up
  Third Place
  Semi-Finalist
Yellow ffff00 pog.svg Golden Buzzer
Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Live Show Golden Buzzer

ParticipantAge(s)GenreActFromSemi-finalResult
Alfredo & Coral30 & 43DangerKnife Throwing Duo Brazil & Spain 2Eliminated
Anastasiia &Salsa35 & 7AnimalsDog Act France 1Third place
Antigravity Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 36–40VarietyMultimedia Group Ukraine 3Eliminated
Baron & Vesper39 & 44DangerSideshow Duo Finland 5Eliminated
Braunstone Community Primary School Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 8–46Singing / DanceChoir & Dance GroupBraunstone, Leicester 2Eliminated
Celestial Crystal Clear action bookmark.png 20–42VarietyDrone Display Group Somerset 5Runner-up
Celtic Beat6-11DanceDance Group Wales 1Eliminated
Christy Coysh35SingingNovelty Singer Wakefield 1Eliminated
Epic Sax Guy 41MusicSaxophonist Moldova 4Eliminated
Fabian Fox26MagicMagician Austria 2Finalist
Fraser Penman35MagicMentalist Glasgow, Scotland 1Eliminated
Glantaf Boys Choir11–18SingingChoir Cardiff, Wales 4Eliminated
Jake Banfield37MagicMagician Essex 5Eliminated
James Miller12SingingSinger Rye, East Sussex 5Eliminated
Juan Carlos12DanceDancer Spain 5Eliminated
Katherine O’Malley42SingingSinger Salford, Greater Manchester 2Eliminated
Kristel Herrera32SingingSinger Halifax, West Yorkshire 4Eliminated
Liwei Yang Crystal Clear action bookmark.png 32VarietyFoot Juggler Taiwan 3Finalist
Macshane & Delby34 & 38SingingFreestyle Rap Duo Australia 2Eliminated
Matty Juniosa Yellow ffff00 pog.svg Crystal Clear action bookmark.png 27SingingSinger Glasgow, Scotland 1Finalist
Mega Unity16–25DanceDance Group France 3Eliminated
Mizuki Shinagawa27AcrobaticsAerialist Japan 3Eliminated
Mr Cherry Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 45VarietyNovelty Act Japan 5Eliminated
Nancy Tilley12MusicDrummer Scarborough, North Yorkshire 1Eliminated
Niamh Noade17Singing / MusicSinger & Harpist County Armagh, Northern Ireland 3Eliminated
Nic Vani41SingingSinger Maidstone, Kent 2Eliminated
Paul Nunnari Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 52AcrobaticsAerialist Sydney, Australia 1Eliminated
Playground16–25DanceDance Group London 3Eliminated
Rafferty Coope Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 17Magic/MusicianMagician Winchester, Hampshire 4Finalist
Ren DMC35SingingRapper North London 4Eliminated
Sadeck Berrabah & LMA Crystal Clear action bookmark.png 19–34DanceDance Group France & Liverpool 2Finalist
Sonny Green Crystal Clear action bookmark.png 30VarietyPoet Southend, Essex 4Finalist
SOS29–33Singing / MusicBand Bournemouth 5Eliminated
Ted Hill Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 31ComedyStand Up Comedian London 3Finalist
The Hawkstone Farmers Choir Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 27–74SingingChoirVarious5Winner
The Lux City Choir24–40SingingGospel ChoirVarious3Eliminated
The Rafikiz20-31AcrobaticsAcrobatic Group Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 1Eliminated
Wei Yamin27MusicPVC Pipe Drummer Taiwan 4Eliminated
Welsch Master Team18–39AcrobaticsAcrobatic Group Switzerland 4Eliminated
World Wings Yellow ffff00 pog.svg 17–28DanceDance Group Japan 2Eliminated

Semi-finals summary

Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Buzzed out
Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Golden Buzzer

  Won the Public Vote
  2nd in Public Vote
  3rd in Public Vote
  Eliminated

Prior to the beginning of the live shows, the semi-finalists were announced after a deliberation stage. [16]

Semi-final 1 (25 April)

Semi-finalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesFinished
CowellHoldenDixonKSI
Nancy Tilley1Drummer3rd - Eliminated
The Rafikiz2Acrobatic Group5th - Eliminated
Fraser Penman3Mentalist4th - Eliminated
Celtic Beat4Dance Group6th - Eliminated
Anastasiia & Salsa5Dog Act1st (Won Public Vote)
Paul Nunnari6Aerialist7th - Eliminated
Christy Coysh7Novelty Singer Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 2nd - Eliminated
Matty Juniosa8Singer Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Golden Buzzer Advancement

Semi-final 2 (2 May)

Semi-finalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesFinished
CowellHoldenDixonKSI
World Wings1Dance Group6th - Eliminated
Fabian Fox2Magician1st (Won Public Vote)
Braunstone Community Primary School3Choir & Dance Group5th - Eliminated
Sadeck Berrabah & LMA4Dance Group Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Golden Buzzer Advancement
Katherine O'Malley5Singer Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 7th - Eliminated
Macshane & Delby6Freestyle Rap Duo2nd - Eliminated
Nic Vani7Singer4th - Eliminated
Alfredo & Coral8Knife Throwing Duo3rd - Eliminated

Semi-final 3 (9 May)

Semi-finalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesFinished
CowellHoldenDixonKSI
Playground1Dance Group5th - Eliminated
The Lux City Choir2Choir6th - Eliminated
Mizuki Shinagawa3Aerialist4th - Eliminated
Mega Unity4Dance Group7th - Eliminated
Niamh Noade5Singer & Harpist2nd - Eliminated
Ted Hill6Stand Up Comedian1st (Won Public Vote)
Liwei Yang7Foot Juggler Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Golden Buzzer Advancement
Antigravity8Multimedia Group3rd - Eliminated

Semi-final 4 (16 May)

Guest performance: The Cast of Jesus Christ Superstar & Sam Ryder

Semi-finalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesFinished
CowellHoldenDixonKSI
Wei Yamin*1PVC Pipe Drummer Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 7th - Eliminated
Welsch Master Team2Acrobatic Group6th - Eliminated
Ren DMC3Rapper2nd - Eliminated
Glantaf Boys Choir4Choir3rd - Eliminated
Sonny Green5Poet Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Golden Buzzer Advancement
Rafferty Coope6Magician1st (Won Public Vote)
Epic Sax Guy 1 7Saxophonist5th - Eliminated
Kristel Herrera8Singer4th - Eliminated
  • ^1 Epic Sax Guy performed with KSI.

* On the ITV2 repeat for 23 May 2026 the first act Wei Yamin was not shown due to a technical difficulty at the beginning.

Semi-final 5 (23 May)

Guest performance: The Cast of Matilda the Musical "(Revolting Children"/"When I Grow Up)"

Semi-finalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesFinished
CowellHoldenDixonKSI
Juan Carlos1Dancer5th - Eliminated
Jake Banfield2Magician2nd - Eliminated
Mr Cherry3Novelty Act Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 2 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg 6th - Eliminated
James Miller4Singer3rd - Eliminated
SOS5Band4th - Eliminated
Celestial6Drone Display Group Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Crystal Clear action bookmark.png Golden Buzzer Advancement
Baron & Vesper7Sideshow Duo7th - Eliminated
The Hawkstone Farmers Choir8Choir1st (Won Public Vote)
  • ^2 Although Mr Cherry pressed Cowell's buzzer as part of his act, Cowell indicated that he would have done so himself regardless of this.

Final (30 May)

Guest performance: The Cast of Sinatra: The Musical , Mis-Teeq ("One Night Stand"/"All I Want"/"Scandalous")

FinalistOrderPerformance typePercentageFinished
Liwei Yang1Foot Juggler2.88%10th
Rafferty Coope2Magician9.01%5th
Anastasiia & Salsa3Dog Act9.28%3rd
The Hawkstone Farmers Choir4Choir28.72%1st
Fabian Fox5Magician4.34%9th
Sonny Green6Poet8.66%6th
Sadeck Berrabah & LMA7Dance Group6.73%8th
Ted Hill8Stand Up Comedian7.88%7th
Celestial9Drone Display Group13.36%2nd
Matty Juniosa10Singer9.16%4th

Ratings

EpisodeAir dateTotal viewers
(millions) [17]
ITV
weekly rank [17]
Auditions 121 February4.701
Auditions 228 February4.881
Auditions 37 March5.171
Auditions 421 March5.081
Auditions 528 March5.381
Auditions 64 April5.281
Auditions 711 April4.551
Auditions 818 April4.331
Semi-Final 125 April3.777
Semi-Final 22 May3.727
Semi-Final 39 May3.767
Semi-Final 416 May3.448
Semi-Final 523 May3.209
Final30 May4.371

References

  1. ↑ Cotton, Elizabeth (12 February 2026). "Britain's Got Talent returns as first episode date confirmed". Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "Ant & Dec almost quit Britain's Got Talent after not "having a very nice time" with Simon Cowell". Digital Spy . 27 January 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent start date confirmed - here's when 2026 series will be on TV and streaming". Digital Spy . 11 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Mensah, Katelyn. "When is Britain's Got Talent 2026 on TV? Release date and latest news | Radio Times". Radio Times . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Hurst, Ben (26 July 2025). "Bruno Tonioli 'quits' as BGT judge with replacement 'lined up'". Wales Online . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "KSI is Britain's Got Talent's new judge". BBC . 2 September 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "KSI is Britain's Got Talent's newest judge after Bruno Tonioli moves on". BBC News . 2 September 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent confirms new judge after Bruno Tonioli exit". Digital Spy . 1 September 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Eales, Courtney (12 February 2026). "Britain's Got Talent return date confirmed by ITV". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent auditions are back - here's everything you need to know". Blackpool Gazette. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Sansome, Jessica (17 October 2025). "Simon Cowell admits real reason for Britain's Got Talent absence". Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent series 19 start date confirmed". Rayo . Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Zone, T. V. (29 June 2025). "Britain's Got Talent heads back to Birmingham and returns to Blackpool for next series". TV Zone UK. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "Six Nations 2026: Fixtures, results, squads and how to watch on TV". The Telegraph . 14 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "BGT viewers fume after Ant and Dec intervene in last-minute rule change". Metro. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Britain's Got Talent: Everything you need to know about the popular TV show". Planet Radio. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  17. 1 2 "BARB Weekly Top Programmes on Four Screens". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.