Britain’s Got Talent kicked off its latest episode with an unexpected and deeply moving moment that brought tears to judge Amanda Holden’s eyes.
The premiere of the eighteenth series began as usual, with the panel—Holden, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli—posing for photographers on the red carpet earlier this year in January. However, a sudden shift occurred when the assembled crowd erupted into song, completely surprising the judges.
Ant McPartlin, observing from the sidelines, questioned, “Is this part of an act? I believe it is.”
Holden, mid-pose for the cameras, visibly became emotional as the audience launched into a spirited rendition of Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr Blue Sky”.
“Oh my goodness! It’s making me quite tearful,” she confessed.
Turning to Cowell, her voice filled with wonder, she asked, “Is this an audition?” The presenter wiped away tears as she watched the performance unfold.
It was revealed that the singers were members of Pop Voices Choir, a group boasting nearly 300 voices ranging in age from nine to ninety-two. The choir leader explained their philosophy:
“It’s for anyone who just loves to sing. We are an inclusive choir. I want to encourage this worldwide, and it would be really nice to win.”
Holden was clearly touched by the performance.
“What a massive surprise,” she exclaimed. “I felt really tearful when you all started singing. It was absolutely gorgeous.”
Dixon echoed her sentiments: “What a lovely surprise. A colorful, joyful burst of loveliness. Well done.” Tonioli added his own enthusiastic endorsement: “Absolutely! You make me feel hot, and it’s freezing! Unbelievable!”
The hosts, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, were brought to the red carpet to share their thoughts on the choir’s performance. Ultimately, the judges and hosts awarded the group a remarkable six “yes” votes—an unprecedented outcome.
Viewers also reacted strongly to the act:
* “BGT. The show that never runs out of surprises. Well done, love it.”
* “Amazing.”
* “Now that’s what you call a choir #BritainsGotTalent.”
However, not all viewers were as enthusiastic. Some expressed fatigue with the recurring presence of choirs on the show:
“#bgt This recycling of the same things must stop, we don’t want to see other choirs, we don’t want to see other singers, we want to see different talents #britainsgottalent.”
Another viewer commented, “Anyone else so over choirs?! #BGT #britainsgottalent”
