The sixteenth series of British talent competition programme Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV, from 15 April to 4 June 2023. Following the previous series, David Walliams resigned from the programme in the wake of criticism to comments he had made of contestants during the 2020 series, leading to him being replaced by Bruno Tonioli in January 2023. During auditions, Cowell allowed a change to the Golden Buzzer format, granting more being given than in previous series.
The sixteenth series was won by comedian Viggo Venn, with dancer Lillianna Clifton finishing in second place, and magician Cillian O’Connor placing third. During its broadcast, the series averaged 5.98 million viewers. Venn was the second international act to win, and he was the third consecutive comedy act to win, following Jon Courtenay and Axel Blake.
Series overview Following the conclusion of the previous series, ITV announced that the show would return for a sixteenth series. However, David Walliams was facing an uncertain future with the programme after ten series, after it emerged he was facing criticism for comments he had made of contestants that had been poorly received by viewers; Walliams later resigned when it became clear the criticism couldn't be ignored. Because of his departure, ITV worked to find a replacement, and signed on former Strictly Come Dancing and current Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli in January 2023 to join with Cowell and the other judges.
Cowell also announced that month of a change in format, revealing that he had given the audience the right to call for a Golden Buzzer for a contestant they felt deserved it, noting that there had been no set rules regarding the buzzer format since it was first introduced. Tonioli also gave an extra Golden Buzzer himself, but by accident after doing so halfway through a contestant's act; something which had never been done before within the Got Talent franchise itself.
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Judges' Wildcard Finalist | Golden Buzzer Audition
ParticipantAge(s)GenrePerformance TypeSemi-finalFinished Abi Carter-Simpson 30 Singing / Music Singer & Ukulelist 1 Eliminated Amy Lou 34 Singing Singer 1Finalist Andrew Stanton 42 Danger Sword Swallower 2 Eliminated Boycanto 6–12 Singing Vocal Group 4 Eliminated Cammy Barnes 32 Singing / Music Singer & Guitarist 5 Eliminated Chickenshed 5–37 Singing Vocal Group 4 Eliminated Cillian O'Connor 13 Magic Close Up Magician 5 Third place Duo Odyssey 27 & 33 Acrobatics Aerial Duo 4 Finalist Dylan B 12 Singing Singer 3 Eliminated Enzo Weyne 33 Magic Magician 1 Eliminated Felix Clements 24 Dance Contemporary Dancer 4 Eliminated Gamal John 36 Singing Singer 1 Eliminated Ghetto Kids 5–13 Dance Dance Group 3 Finalist Harry Churchill 11 Music Guitarist 3 Eliminated Ichikawa Koikuchi 42 Variety Flatulist 1 Eliminated Johns' Boys 14–73 Singing Choir 2 Eliminated Kimoon Do 31 Magic Magician 4 Eliminated Lewis Fuller 24 Singing / Magic Singer & Magician 2 Eliminated Lillianna Clifton 13 Dance Contemporary Dancer 5 Runner-Up Malakai Bayoh 13 Singing Opera Singer 4 Finalist Markus Birdman 52 Comedy Stand Up Comedian 3 Eliminated MB14 28 Music Beatboxer 4 Eliminated Miki Dark 57 Danger / Magic Stunt Magician 3 Eliminated Musa Motha 27 Dance Contemporary Dancer 1Finalist Nathan & Joanne 24 & 28 Dance Dance Duo 2 Eliminated Noodle 24 Singing Singer 4 Eliminated Notorious 8–16 Dance Dance Group 3 Eliminated Nurse Georgie Carroll 47 Comedy Stand Up Comedian 5 Eliminated Olivia Lynes 11 Singing Musical Theatre Singer2Finalist Parkour Collective 20–25 Acrobatics Parkour Trio 1 Eliminated Romeo & Icy 20 & 21 Dance Dance Duo 5 Eliminated The Pixiebelles 6–9 Singing Theatre Group 5 Eliminated Tia Connolly 15 Singing Singer 2 Eliminated Tonikaku 41 Variety Novelty Act 5 Finalist Toy Toy Toy 26 & 34 Variety Yo-Yo Duo 3 Eliminated Travis George 22 Singing Opera Singer 3 Finalist United 2 Dance 9–11 Dance Ballroom Dance Group 1 Eliminated Unity 16–25 Dance Contemporary Dance Group 5 Eliminated Viggo Venn 33 Comedy Comedian 2 Winner Yo Highness 10–26 Dance Dance Group 2 Eliminated During the fourth semi-final, Noodle was revealed to be series 15 finalist Tom Ball. Ball's identity was kept a secret by production staff throughout the series - all details listed here pertain to his unveiling as the voice of Noodle in the semi-final.
Semi-finals summary Buzzed out | Judges' vote | |
Prior to the beginning of the live shows, the semi-finalists were decided following a deliberation stage at the London Palladium. Semi-final 1 (29 May) Guest performance: Diversity Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished United 2 Dance 1Ballroom Dance Group4.3% 6th – Eliminated Gamal John 2Singer4.1% 7th – Eliminated Ichikawa Koikuchi 3Flatulist 1.0% 8th – Eliminated Enzo Weyne 4Magician10.0% 4th – Eliminated Parkour Collective 5Parkour Trio7.5% 5th – Eliminated Abi Carter-Simpson 6Singer & Ukulelist 16.6% 3rd (Judges' Vote tied – Lost on Public Vote) Amy Lou 7Singer 18.3%2nd (Judges' Vote tied – Won on Public Vote) Musa Motha 8Contemporary Dancer38.2% 1st (Won Public Vote)
Semi-final 2 (30 May) Guest performance: The cast of We Will Rock You ("Don't Stop Me Now"/"We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions") Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished Yo Highness 1Dance Group5.1% 6th – Eliminated Olivia Lynes 2Musical Theatre Singer 13.3% 3rd (Won Judges' Vote) Nathan & Joanne 3Dance Duo7.2% 4th – Eliminated Lewis Fuller 4Magician & Singer6.8% 5th – Eliminated Tia Connolly 5Singer3.9% 7th – Eliminated Andrew Stanton 6Sword Swallower3.6% 8th – Eliminated Johns' Boys 7Choir 16.4% 2nd (Lost Judges' Vote) Viggo Venn 8Comedian43.7% 1st (Won Public Vote)
Semi-final 3 (31 May) Guest performance: James Arthur ("A Year Ago") Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished Harry Churchill 1Guitarist 9.5% 3rd (Judges' Vote tied – Lost on Public Vote) Miki Dark 2Stunt Magician5.1% 7th – Eliminated Travis George 3Opera Singer 19.4% 2nd (Judges' Vote tied – Won on Public Vote) Notorious 4Dance Group8.0% 4th – Eliminated Markus Birdman 5Stand Up Comedian 2.8% 8th – Eliminated Ghetto Kids 6Dance Group39.7% 1st (Won Public Vote) Toy Toy Toy 7Yo-yo Duo8.0% 5th – Eliminated Dylan B 8Singer7.5% 6th – Eliminated
Semi-final 4 (1 June) Guest performance: Axel Blake Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished Noodle 1Singer9.0% 5th – Eliminated Chickenshed 2Vocal Group8.6% 6th – Eliminated Kimoon Do 3Close Up Magician 2.8% 8th – Eliminated MB14 4Beatboxer 13.1% 3rd (Judges' Vote tied – Lost on Public Vote) Boycanto 5Vocal Group7.2% 7th - Eliminated Duo Odyssey 6Aerial Duo 21.8% 2nd (Judges' Vote tied – Won on Public Vote) Felix Clements 7Contemporary Dancer10.0% 4th – Eliminated Malakai Bayoh 8Opera Singer27.5% 1st (Won Public Vote)
Semi-final 5 (2 June) Guest performance: The cast of The Wizard of Oz ("We're Off to See the Wizard"/"Over the Rainbow"/"If I Only Had a Brain"/"The Merry Old Land of Oz") Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance TypeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished Romeo & Icy 1Dance Duo1.2% 8th – Eliminated Lillianna Clifton 2Contemporary Dancer 17.7% 3rd (Won Judges' Vote) Nurse Georgie Carroll 3Stand Up Comedian5.9% 6th – Eliminated Cillian O'Connor 4Close Up Magician29.4% 1st (Won Public Vote) The Pixiebelles 5Theatre Group4.4% 7th – Eliminated Cammy Barnes 6Singer & Guitarist10.6% 5th – Eliminated Unity 7Contemporary Dance Group12.5% 4th – Eliminated Tonikaku 8Novelty Act18.3% 2nd (Lost Judges' Vote) Due to the majority vote for Lillianna Clifton, Cowell's voting intention was not revealed. Tonikaku was later sent through to the final as the judges' wildcard.
Final (4 June) Guest performance: Susan Boyle & the cast of Les Misérables ("I Dreamed a Dream"/"Finale") Finalist Order Performance Type Percentage Finished Ghetto Kids 1Dance Group10.1% 6th Olivia Lynes 2Musical Theatre Singer4.2% 9th Amy Lou 3Singer5.8% 7th Tonikaku 4Novelty Act2.9% 11th Travis George 5Opera Singer4.4% 8th Duo Odyssey 6Aerial Duo3.0% 10th Cillian O'Connor 7Close Up Magician11.8% 3rd Lillianna Clifton 8Contemporary Dancer13.1% 2nd Viggo Venn 9Comedian22.5% 1st Musa Motha 10Contemporary Dancer10.9% 5th Malakai Bayoh 11Opera Singer11.3% 4th
Ratings
EpisodeAir dateTotal viewers(millions) ITVWeekly rank Auditions 1 7.10 1 Auditions 2 6.42 2 Auditions 3 7.32 1 Auditions 4 6.49 1 Auditions 5 6.63 5 Auditions 6 5.70 3 Auditions 7 5.96 1 Auditions 8 5.92 1 Semi-Final 1 5.58 2 Semi-Final 2 5.38 3 Semi-Final 3 5.00 5 Semi-Final 4 4.80 6 Semi-Final 5 5.04 4 Final 6.33 1
References