The eighteenth series of British talent competition programme Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV from 22 February 2025 and concluded on 31 May 2025; due to live coverage of the final match weekend of the 2025 Six Nations Championship, on 15 March 2025, the fourth audition episode of the series was pushed back by a week. Additionally, due to BBC One and ITV's shared live coverage of the 2025 FA Cup final and BBC One's live coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final, on 17 May 2025, the fourth semi-final was pushed back a day to avoid clashes. Auditions took place in Blackpool, between October 2024 and January 2025, rather than London, for the first time in the show's history, with internet personality, boxer and rapper KSI partially replacing Bruno Tonioli, who was unavailable due to his commitments in America with Dancing with the Stars; he also stepped in for Simon Cowell, who stepped down following the death of Liam Payne.
The series is notable for airing in February, rather than April, with the audition episodes filling in the gap in the schedule left by Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which entered indefinite hiatus, following the end of its twentieth series, in April 2024. Additionally, the live semi-finals were aired weekly on Saturday nights (with the exception of the fourth), from 26 April, with the live final airing on 31 May 2025. In previous series, the semi-finals aired over 5 consecutive weeknights, with the final airing on the following Sunday.
The eighteenth series was won by magician Harry Moulding, with dance group The Blackouts as runners-up, and dancer Binita Chetry finishing in third place. Moulding was just the second magic act to win Britain’s Got Talent, joining series 10 winner, Richard Jones. The Blackouts were the first international act to finish as runners-up, and this was also the fourth time in the show's history in which two acts from the same semi-final would place in the Final 3, with the previous time being just 2, during series 16.
Series overview Following the conclusion of the previous series, it was announced that the show would return for an eighteenth series. It was also confirmed that the judging panel of the prior series would remain the same, with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli returning to the show, additionally, guest judge KSI partially replaced Tonioli, who was unavailable due to his commitments in America with Dancing with the Stars, and also stepped in for Cowell, who stepped down following the death of One Direction star Liam Payne. This is the first time in the show's history that it aired in February, instead of April, to fill the gap in the schedule left by Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, following the start of its indefinite hiatus, in April 2024.
In November 2024, it was announced that the auditions would be entirely filmed in Blackpool and not in London for the first time in the show's history.
The pre-recorded auditions were broadcast from 22 February to 19 April 2025; due to live coverage of the final match weekend of the 2025 Six Nations Championship, the fourth audition episode of the series was pushed back by a week. The live semi-final shows started airing on a weekly basis, from 26 April to the live final on 31 May 2025. Due to BBC One and ITV's live coverage of the 2025 FA Cup final and BBC One's live coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final, on 17 May 2025, the fourth semi-final was pushed back a day to avoid clashes.
On 16 April 2025, it was announced that each of the judges and the hosts, Ant & Dec, were permitted to one Golden Buzzer each in the live shows with one pressed every episode to advance an act onto the final with the other Finalist on a weekly basis being determined by the act who won the Public Vote. However, during the last semi final, on 24 May 2025, Ant & Dec announced that they would instead allow KSI, who served as a guest judge once more during the show, to use their Live Show Golden Buzzer.
Wildcard Golden Buzzer Live Show Golden Buzzer
ParticipantAgeGenrePerformance typeFromSemi-finalFinishedAkira50VarietyNovelty ActTokyo, Japan1EliminatedAlbert Amores18AcrobaticsAerialistSpain3EliminatedAlexandra Burgio34MagicMagicianCanada2EliminatedAuzzy Blood29DangerSideshow PerformerLas Vegas, US1EliminatedBao Cuong45DangerDanger ActVietnam3EliminatedBinita Chetry8DanceDancerAssam, India5Third placeCheer Re Man’s22-31Acrobatics / DanceCheerleading GroupTokyo, Japan2EliminatedCJ Emmons43SingingSingerLos Angeles, California5EliminatedEden Choi24MagicMagicianSouth Korea1EliminatedElectric Umbrella 5-66SingingChoirWatford, Hertfordshire3EliminatedHan & Fran 35 & 36SingingVocal DuoLlandudno, Conwy, North Wales5FinalistHarry & Lewis27DanceDance DuoLiverpool & Manchester3EliminatedHarry Moulding 24MagicMagicianBlackpool, Lancashire5WinnerHear Our Voice17-76SingingChoirVarious4FinalistHeavysaurus Singing / MusicBandGermanyEven though Heavysaurus originated in Finland, The German version of the band competed in Britain's Got Talent 1EliminatedIDOLLS 18-32DanceDance GroupJapan4EliminatedJannick Holste22Magic / DanceMagician & DancerGermany2EliminatedJasmine Rice 36Singing Opera SingerNew York, US3FinalistJerry Pop12DanceDancerManchester5EliminatedJohn Pierce42SingingSingerEssex2EliminatedJoseph Charm 32ComedyStand Up ComedianMilton Keynes, Buckinghamshire4FinalistLazy Generation28-36DangerStunt GroupLondon5EliminatedLil M’s5-10DanceDance GroupPort Talbot, Wales2EliminatedLinda Mudzenda 21SingingSingerZimbabwe1EliminatedManho Han33MagicMagicianSouth Korea5EliminatedMax Fox 35SingingSingerBlackpool, Lancashire4EliminatedMaya Giotea 14SingingSingerRomania4EliminatedMickey Callisto28SingingSingerSunderland, Tyne and Wear3EliminatedObsequious19-33DanceDance GroupManila, Philippines4EliminatedOlly Pearson 11MusicGuitaristWrexham, Wales2FinalistPapi Bucket39MusicRubber Chicken MusicianTaiwan4EliminatedPing Pong Pang15-37DanceDance GroupItaly3FinalistRed Panda54AcrobaticsUnicyclistChina5EliminatedRuMac32Singing / MusicSinger & AccordionistUllapool, Scotland3EliminatedStacey Leadbeatter 29SingingSingerYorkshire2FinalistTeddy Magic8MagicClose Up MagicianKent1WithdrewThe Blackouts 18-42DanceLED Dance GroupSwitzerland1Runner-upTK Magic28MagicMagicianDagenham, East London4EliminatedVinnie McKee 29SingingSingerGlasgow, Scotland1FinalistWill Burns 24ComedyImpressionistLeeds, West Yorkshire2Eliminated
IDOLLS previously reached the Semi-Finals of Series 13 under the name Fabulous Sisters.
Semi-finals summary Buzzed out Golden Buzzer
Prior to the beginning of the live shows, the semi-finalists were decided following a deliberation stage.
Semi-final 1 (26 April) Guest performance: The Cast of Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished Heavysaurus 1Band 3.9% 6th - Eliminated Vinnie McKee 2Singer28.6% 1st (Won Public Vote) The Blackouts 3LED Dance Group N/A Akira 4Novelty Act 17.5% 4th - Eliminated Linda Mudzenda5Singer23.0% 2nd - Eliminated Auzzy Blood6Sideshow Performer7.0% 5th - Eliminated Eden Choi7Magician20.0% 3rd - Eliminated Teddy Magic N/AClose Up MagicianWithdrew Teddy Magic was scheduled to perform second, however he pulled out of performing before withdrawing from the show on 15th May.
Semi-final 2 (3 May) Guest performance: The Cast of Disney's Hercules Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinishedLil M’s1Dance Group10.4%5th - EliminatedJohn Pierce2Singer8.4%7th - EliminatedAlexandra Burgio3Magician12.3%4th - EliminatedOlly Pearson4GuitaristN/A Jannick Holste5Magician & Dancer10.2%6th - EliminatedWill Burns6Impressionist17.8%2nd - EliminatedCheer Re Man’s7Cheerleading Group16.0%3rd - EliminatedStacey Leadbeatter8Singer24.9%1st (Won Public Vote) Will Burns buzzed himself with Cowell's buzzer as part of his act.
Semi-final 3 (10 May) Guest performance: The Cast of Just For One Day, Sydnie Christmas & Loren Allred Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinishedHarry & Lewis1Dance Duo8.5%5th - Eliminated Albert Amores2Aerialist12.5%3rd - EliminatedMickey Callisto3Singer11.2%4th - Eliminated Jasmine Rice 4 Opera Singer N/A RuMac5Singer & Accordionist 7.4%6th - EliminatedPing Pong Pang6Dance Group28.1%1st (Won Public Vote) Bao Cuong7Danger Act4.8%7th - Eliminated Electric Umbrella8Choir27.5% 2nd - Eliminated
Semi-final 4 (18 May) Guest performance: The Cast of Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, The Cast of Oliver! Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinished IDOLLS1Dance Group12.7%5th - Eliminated Papi Bucket2Rubber Chicken Musician 2.8%7th - Eliminated Max Fox 3Singer19.1%2nd - Eliminated TK Magic 4Magician18.9%3rd - Eliminated Maya Giotea5Singer13.6%4th - Eliminated Joseph Charm 6Stand Up ComedianN/A Obsequious7Dance Group9.8%6th - Eliminated Hear Our Voice 8Choir23.1%1st (Won Public Vote)
Semi-final 5 (24 May) Guest performance: Here & Now - The Steps Musical & Steps, Diversity Semi-FinalistOrderPerformance typeBuzzes and judges' votesPercentageFinishedJerry Pop1Dancer4.5%7th - EliminatedCJ Emmons2Singer17.6%3rd - EliminatedHarry Moulding3Magician N/A Binita Chetry4Dancer25.9%1st (Won Public Vote)Red Panda5Unicyclist4.8%6th - EliminatedLazy Generation6Stunt Group13.9%4th - EliminatedManho Han7Magician11.7%5th - EliminatedHan & Fran8Singing Duo21.6%2nd - Eliminated
Although he did not have a buzzer himself, KSI pressed Dixon's buzzer at the end of the performance to mark his disapproval of the act.
Han & Fran were later sent through as the judges’ wildcard.
Final (31 May) • Guest Performance: KSI & Tom Grennan
Finalist Order Performance type Percentage Finished Han & Fran1Singing Duo3.6%9th Ping Pong Pang2Dance Group3.1%10th 3Singer2.8%11th Hear Our Voice4Choir7.0%7th Joseph Charm5Stand Up Comedian9.3%5th Vinnie McKee6Singer4.7%8th Jasmine Rice7Opera Singer9.1%6th Binita Chetry8Dancer13.2%3rd The Blackouts9Electronic Dance Group15.1%2nd Harry Moulding10Magician21.7%1st Olly Pearson11Guitarist10.4%4th
Ratings
<onlyinclude> EpisodeAir dateTotal viewers(millions)ITVWeekly rank Auditions 1 6.85 1 Auditions 2 6.21 2 Auditions 3 6.34 1 Auditions 4 6.12 1 Auditions 5 5.86 3 Auditions 6 5.51 2 Auditions 7 5.79 1 Auditions 8 5.53 1 Semi-Final 1 5.11 1 Semi-Final 2 4.87 1 Semi-Final 3 4.87 1 Semi-Final 4 4.30 2 Semi-Final 5 4.92 1 Final 5.29 1
References