During the filming of the latest Britain’s Got Talent series, Simon Cowell had his heart in his mouth when he found himself in a precarious position next to a blindfolded man swinging a mallet at a watermelon. The harrowing incident is just a glimpse into the wild variety of acts competing in the show’s 18th run, which is set to include BGT’s most repulsive contestant to date, Auzzy Blood.
This American performer incited gasps of revulsion as he passed an enormous screw and then a tube through his nose and mouth, and even convinced Simon to sip wine from the tube that had been inside him.
The upcoming series will transport ITV audiences to Blackpool, a seaside locale where head judge Simon feared for his life onstage, surrounded by smashed watermelon and amidst the screams of fellow judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.
It was only when a member of the production team intervened that a stunned Simon recovered enough to exclaim: “Are you f***ing crazy? ” Recounting that unnerving experience later to the Mirror, Simon reflected, “It’s that feeling when you kind of think somebody doesn’t want you on the show any more. It was that. It was the closest, genuinely, where I’m thinking ‘they actually want to kill me’. And I swear to God, that’s how I felt because this guy got really nervous and he’d slipped and was shaking as he was smashing these watermelons.”
Simon, aged 65, expressed his relief after a particularly dangerous act on set, recounting how the laughing producers urged him to ‘carry on’, but he was thankful when the ordeal ended. He said, “The health and safety guys, normally quite annoying, actually stopped him. Thank God, they saved my life. When you’re up there you’re immersed in it and then you go home and think ‘that sh*t is dark, I nearly got killed twelve times’.”
Amanda, 53, described the experience of watching Simon’s close call as “horrific”, noting that despite instructions to remain still, Simon moved and felt the “wind of the hammer” by his ear, reports the Mirror.
She recalled the chaos of the scene, saying, “Even with St. John’s Ambulance – I don’t know what they would’ve done – but in the wings it was so precarious because it was melon they were smashing, so the water was everywhere. Any kind of safety that there must have been was out the window. It was very hard to watch.”
Alesha, at 46, echoed the sentiment, admitting her genuine concern: “We were genuinely worried. I realised how much I cared about you, Simon! Please don’t do that again. It is funny though, the hardest acts to watch end up being the most entertaining to watch back.”
Another shocking performance comes from Auzzy Blood of Las Vegas, who performs a stunt involving a nasal hook. The judges acknowledge that such gruesome acts may lead to viewer complaints, prompting Amanda to joke, “Let’s hope so. Because I’ve kept fully dressed and covered up, so we’re praying for Ofcom,” referencing past complaints about her revealing outfits.
Simon concurred that there might be some complaints to the TV regulator, yet he was confident his ten year old son, Eric, would find the performance enjoyable. “We do have kids in the audience and I’m always looking behind going, ‘Do they like it? ‘ And actually, yeah, they do. But we probably will get some complaints. I love it when they say ‘don’t try this at home’ like we’ve all got screws and things just waiting to do that.”
He also made it clear that he didn’t actually ingest any wine from Auzzy Blood’s daring nasal tube stunt, clarifying: “It got to a millimetre away – it’s close, but not quite.”
Guest judge KSI, the multifaceted boxer, singer and YouTuber with an impressive 80 million followers, expressed his shock, remarking: “The guy with the screws. What the hell? It was ridiculous. I can’t believe you drank from his face. I would’ve thrown up.”
Despite some uneasiness, Alesha stood by the American act’s entertainment value, asserting: “I found that fantastic to watch. It’s entertaining. It’s funny. And I do think all our kids will love that.”
This year’s lineup boasts an array of talented solo vocalists, including Scottish bingo caller Vinnie, Stacey from the supermarket’s cooked poultry counter, and Zimbabwe’s Linda. Simon noted: “Some of those singers, they’re a bit shaky at the beginning. And then you see the audience are rooting for them and it gives them that boost. And when that moment happens and it works it’s amazing. Still to this day I love it.
Those clips really reminded me of when we first started making the show, whether it was Paul Potts or Susan Boyle – it’s that moment when you can just feel everyone is involved and they like it and it’s going to change that person’s life.”
Amanda noted that Simon, over the past 18 years, had shifted away from his ‘Mr Nasty’ image but seems to be reclaiming that persona lately, remarking: “He did go soft for a bit, but I feel like he’s coming back now.”
The current series includes various choirs, featuring one particularly remarkable group composed entirely of sub postmasters involved in the widely publicised scandal, vividly depicted in last year’s ITV drama “Mr Bates Vs the Post Office”.
The choir was formed as an act of positivity amidst the negative aftermath of the scandal. Simon expressed a strong reaction to the injustice saying: “I will never buy a stamp again – I really won’t. I watched Mr. Bates – it was probably the most powerful piece of TV drama I’ve ever seen in my life. They were treated in the most disgusting way. They were bullied. So when I actually saw them, I was actually quite starstruck and it was a really, really powerful moment. I think it will remind people at home that it’s not finished yet – what happened to them is still going on. And they were really good.”
This series of Britain’s Got Talent, which boasts a record number of golden buzzers, has generated unforgettable moments, such as a pole-dancing seagull and an incredible performance by Leeds comedian Will Burns, who is known for his spot-on impressions of TV personalities like Ant and Dec, harking back to their Byker Grove era. Guest judge and influencer KSI, aged 31, shared his enjoyment of the role, filling in for Bruno Tonioli, 69, during a filming conflict, and also stepping in when Simon Cowell needed time off following Liam Payne’s death.
Having a laugh about an anticipated viral segment, KSI commented, “There’s one moment which I know is going to come out and it’s going to go viral and I’m going to hate it,” adding, “It’s very good. And you’re going to enjoy it. But I hate it. I hate it a lot.”
He was particularly taken aback by an audience member who passionately requested an audition opportunity—and astonishingly got one. KSI hinted at the performance, saying, “I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say it was out of this world for sure.”
The judges unanimously echoed that Blackpool hosted the rowdiest audience they’d ever experienced, with Bruno Tonioli going so far as to claim the noise nearly caused his ears to bleed. Some quirky characters also populated the theatre, including a woman who persistently gestured rudely at Simon yet bizarrely desired a selfie afterwards.
Bruno recalled the incident, saying, “She was mental. We called security.”
Despite the pandemonium, Simon Cowell thrived on the vibes and announced intentions to make Blackpool the show’s consistent venue, enthusing, “A million per cent. It was amazing. I’d like to go back there every year – you wouldn’t have got that off a London audience.”