The tenth series of the British talent competition programme Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV, from 9 April to 28 May 2016. To celebrate ten series of the show, the final featured a special performance entitled "Best of Britain’s Got Talent", which featured several participants who had appeared on the show during the previous nine series, including Ashleigh and Pudsey, Attraction, Diversity, Jon Clegg, Stavros Flatley, Collabro and Spelbound. It was the last series to have its live episodes broadcast at The Fountain Studios before the site's closure that year.
The tenth series was won by magician Richard Jones, with jazz singer Wayne Woodward finishing in second place and dance troupe Boogie Storm third. During its broadcast, the series averaged around 9.5 million viewers. Although the main programme faced no major incidents, its companion show Britain's Got More Talent caused controversy for incorporating a segment that was later criticised by Simon Cowell.
Series overview Following open auditions held between October and December 2015, including an additional one on 10 January 2016, the Judges' auditions took place between January and February 2016, within Liverpool, Birmingham, and London. There were no major incidents amongst the judging panel that forced them to be absent, although Simon Cowell arrived late for the London auditions on 23 January - David Walliams's mother, Kathleen Williams, who was attending these, stood in for him for a number of auditions until he arrived.
Of the participants that took part, only forty-five made it into the five live semi-finals - of these acts, singer Beau Dermott, gospel choir 100 Voices of Gospel, singer Jasmine Elcock, singing duo Anne & Ian Marshall, and dance troupe Boogie Storm, each received a golden buzzer during their auditions - with nine appearing in each one, and twelve of these acts making it into the live final; the Judges' Wildcard was dancing duo Shannon & Peter, who lost the Judges' vote in the second semi-final, while the Public Wildcard was dog act Trip Hazard, who lost the Judges' vote in the final semi-final.
Unlike previous series, where the top 3 in each semi final was announced in no particular order, the contestants were announced in order of how many public votes they received, starting from last place, and working up to 4th place, leaving the top 3.
The below lists the results of each participant's overall performance in this series:
Judges' Wildcard Finalist | Public Wildcard Finalist | Golden Buzzer Audition
Participant Age(s) GenrePerformance TypeSemi-finalResult 100 Voices of Gospel 21-52 Singing Gospel Choir 1 Alex Magala 26 Danger Sword Swallower 2 Ana & Fia Almanda 18 & 42 Singing Singing Duo 5 Anne & Ian Marshall 61 & 65 Singing Singing Duo 2 Another Kind of Blue 23–40 Dance Projection Dance Group 2 Balance Unity 17 Dance Breakdancer 4 Beau Dermott 12 Singing Musical Theatre Singer 4 Ben Blaque 37 Danger Crossbow Performer 1 Bespoke Candi 20–28 Dance / Danger Fire Dance Group 4 Bollywest Fusion 18–32 Dance Bollywood & Hip Dance Group 4 Boogie Storm 17–24 Dance Dance Group 3 Third Place Chloe Fenton 10 Dance Dancer 5 Christian Lee 45 Comedy / Magic Comic Magician 4 Craig Ball 24 Singing / Comedy Singing Impressionist 5 Danny Beard 23 Singing Drag Singer 4 Darren Altman 42 Comedy Impressionist 1 Elite Squad Royalz 8-13 Dance Street Dance Group 5 Flying Bebop 29–32 Dance Drone Interactive Dancer 3 Jack Higgins 14 Dance Contemporary Dancer 3 Jasmine Elcock 14 Singing Singer 5 Josh Curnow 26 Singing / Music Singer & Pianist 3 Kathleen Jenkins 25 Singing Singer 1 Khronos Agoria 16–19 Dance Contemporary Dance Group 3 Mel & Jamie 45 & 16 Singing Singing Duo 1 Morgan Connie Smith 16 Singing Singer 3 Mythical PSM 17–18 Dance Dance Trio 2 Presentation School Choir 14–18 Singing Choir 5 Rachael Wooding 37 Singing Singer 2 Richard Bayton 29 Singing Singer 1 Richard Jones 25 Magic Close Up Magician 3 Shannon & Peter 46 & 50 Dance Ballet Dance Duo 2 Spartans Resurrection 13–23 Acrobatics Gymnastics Group 1 The Collaborative Orchestra & Singers 33 Singing / Music Choir & Orchestra 4 The Deep Space Deviants 46 Singing Singer 5 The Garnett Family 17–46 Singing Vocal Group 2 Togni Brothers 19 & 20 Acrobatics Acrobatic Duo 5 Total TXS 16–19 Dance Street Dance Group 1 Trip Hazard 30 Animals Dog Act 5 Tumar KR 19–25 Dance Hip Hop Dance Group 4 Vadik & The Bear 35 Dance Dance Entertainer 3 Vitaly Voronko 25 Singing / Music Singer & Accordionist 2 Vox Fortura 29–37 Singing Opera Group 4 Wayne Woodward 20 Singing Jazz Singer 2 Ystrad Fawr Dancers 14–17 Dance Ballroom Dance Group 1 Zyrah Rose 25–28 Singing Vocal Group 3
Ages denoted for a participant(s), pertain to their final performance for this series. Locations denote where members from each respective group came from. For health & safety reason, the nature of Alex Magala's performance required these to be pre-recorded as a precaution in the live rounds. Locations for members of each respective group, or the group as a whole, were not disclosed during their time on the programme.
Semi-finals summary Buzzed out | Judges' vote |
Semi-final 1 (22 May) Guest performance: Cast of Motown: The Musical ("I Want You Back"/"The Love You Save"/"Get Ready"/"Dancing in the Street")
Semi-Finalist OrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and Judges' VotesPercentageFinished Richard Bayton 1Singer2.6% 8th - Eliminated Spartans Resurrection 2Gymnastics Group5.8% 6th - Eliminated Kathleen Jenkins 3Singer15.0% 3rd (Judges' vote tied - Lost on Public vote) Total TXS 4Dance Group8.4% 5th - EliminatedBen Blaque 5 Crossbow Performer5.2% 7th - Eliminated Ystrad Fawr Dancers 6Ballroom Dance Group2.0% 9th - Eliminated Mel & Jamie 7Singing Duo21.2% 2nd (Judges' vote tied - Won on Public vote) Darren Altman 8Impressionist13.0% 4th - Eliminated 100 Voices of Gospel 9Gospel Choir26.8% 1st (Won Public vote)
Semi-final 2 (23 May) Guest performance: OneRepublic ("Wherever I Go")
Semi-Finalist OrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and Judges' VotesPercentageFinished Anne & Ian Marshall 1Singing Duo2.1% 8th - Eliminated Wayne Woodward 2Jazz Singer25.0% 1st (Won Public vote) Mythical PSM 3Dance Trio7.3% 7th - Eliminated The Garnett Family 4Vocal Group7.9% 6th - Eliminated Vitaly Voronko 5Singer & Accordianist1.5% 9th - Eliminated Rachael Wooding 6Singer10.3% 4th - Eliminated Another Kind of Blue 7Projection Dance Group8.4% 5th - Eliminated Alex Magala 8 Sword Swallower16.0% 3rd (Won Judges' vote) Shannon & Peter 9Ballet Dance Duo21.5% 2nd (Lost Judges' vote)
Shannon & Peter were later sent through to the final as the judges' wildcard.
Semi-final 3 (24 May) Guest performance: Nick Jonas ("Jealous"/"Close")
Semi-Finalist OrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and Judges' VotesPercentageFinished Khronos Agoria 1Contemporary Dance Group5.2% 7th - Eliminated Zyrah Rose 2Vocal Group4.2% 8th - Eliminated Josh Curnow 3Singer & Pianist8.4% 4th - Eliminated Vadik & The Bear 4 Dance Entertainer5.8% 6th - Eliminated Flying Bebop 5Drone Interactive Dancer1.6% 9th - Eliminated Morgan Connie Smith 6Singer7.0% 5th - Eliminated Boogie Storm 7Dance Group21.9% 2nd (Judges' vote tied - Won on Public vote) Richard Jones 8 Close Up Magician33.9% 1st (Won Public vote) Jack Higgins 9Contemporary Dancer12.0% 3rd (Judges' vote tied - Lost on Public vote)
For technical reasons, Flying Bebop's performance had to be pre-recorded before the semi-final.
Semi-final 4 (25 May) Guest performance: Jules, Matisse & Friends
Semi-Finalist OrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and Judges' VotesPercentageFinished Bollywest Fusion 1Bollywood & Hip Hop Dance Group2.5% 8th - Eliminated The Collaborative Orchestra & Singers 2Choir & Orchestra9.6% 5th - Eliminated Bespoke Candi 3 Fire Dance Group2.2% 9th - Eliminated Vox Fortura 4 Opera Group9.7% 4th - Eliminated Balance Unity 5Breakdancer17.3% 3rd (Won Judges' vote) Danny Beard 6Drag Singer4.9% 7th - Eliminated Christian Lee 7Comic Magician5.9% 6th - Eliminated Tumar KR 8Hip Hop Dance Group18.2% 2nd (Lost Judges' vote) Beau Dermott 9Musical Theatre Singer29.7% 1st (Won Public vote)
Dixon pressed Walliams and Holden's buzzers during Bespoke Candi's performance, citing that Walliams told her to do it. The buzzers were never removed, however. Cowell did not cast his vote, due to the majority support for Balance Unity from the other judges, but admitted that his voting intention would have been for this semi-finalist.
Semi-final 5 (26 May) Guest performance: Fifth Harmony ("Work From Home")
Semi-Finalist OrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and Judges' VotesPercentageFinished Elite Squad Royalz 1Street Dance Group6.4% 6th - Eliminated Ana & Fia Almanda 2Singing Duo3.5% 8th - Eliminated The Deep Space Deviants 3Singer2.1% 9th - Eliminated Jasmine Elcock 4Singer23.4% 2nd (Won Judges' vote) Trip Hazard 5Dog Act15.5%3rd (Lost Judges' vote) Togni Brothers 6Acrobatic Duo6.9%5th - Eliminated Craig Ball 7Singing Impressionist24.9% 1st (Won Public vote) Chloe Fenton 8Dancer5.1%7th - Eliminated Presentation School Choir 9Choir12.2% 4th - Eliminated
Trip Hazard were later sent through to the final as the public's wildcard.
Public Wildcard Semi-FinalistSemi-FinalPerformance TypePercentageFinished Kathleen Jenkins1Singer14.4% 4th Shannon & Peter2Ballet Dance Duo19.1% 3rd Jack Higgins3Contemporary Dancer12.4% 5th Tumar KR4Hip Hop Dance Group21.3% 2nd Trip Hazard5Dog Act32.8% 1st
Final (28 May) Guest performances: Katherine Jenkins ("Rule, Britannia!") Clean Bandit & Louisa Johnson ("Tears") Jamie Raven, Attraction, Diversity, Ashleigh and Pudsey, Kieran Gaffney, George Sampson, Old Men Grooving, Jon Clegg, Stavros Flatley, Collabro and Spelbound
Finalist Order Performance Type Percentage Finished Balance Unity 1Breakdancer3.8% 10th Richard Jones 2Close Up Magician16.7%1st 100 Voices of Gospel 3Gospel Choir4.7% 8th Alex Magala 4Sword Swallower4.5% 9th Mel & Jamie 5 Singing Duo1.9% 12th Shannon & Peter 6Ballet Dance Duo3.2% 11th Jasmine Elcock 7Singer11.8% 4th Trip Hazard 8Dog Act7.8% 7th Beau Dermott 9Musical Theatre Singer9.8% 5th Craig Ball 10Singing Impressionist9.2% 6th Boogie Storm 11Dance Group12.8% 3rd Wayne Woodward 12Jazz Singer13.8% 2nd
Ratings
Episode Air date Total viewers (millions) ITV Weekly rank Auditions 1 11.67 1 Auditions 2 12.59 1 Auditions 3 12.46 1 Auditions 4 12.05 1 Auditions 5 11.55 1 Auditions 6 10.42 1 Auditions 7 10.46 1 Semi-final 1 10.01 2 Semi-final 1 results 7.16 8 Semi-final 2 8.51 8 Semi-final 2 results 6.72 13 Semi-final 3 8.23 9 Semi-final 3 results 6.56 15 Semi-final 4 8.75 4 Semi-final 4 results 7.33 11 Semi-final 5 8.56 5 Semi-final 5 results 7.43 10 Final 10.48 1
Excludes ITV+1.
Controversy Production staff working on Britain's Got More Talent created controversy after a live episode of the tenth series, when they conducted a segment to celebrate the tenth year of Britain's Got Talent with a special contest. The contest focused on the sister show's host, Stephen Mulhern, asking trivia questions about the main programme and awarding puppies to the judges for each correct answer given. After the segment was completed and the programme entered a commercial break, Simon Cowell became concerned over the well-being of the animals, and criticised staff members for a poorly conceived stunt. While Mulhern had to apologise to viewers for what was shown on television, Cowell made it clear to the producers that such a stunt would not be repeated.
References