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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

Britain's Got Talent's The Witch - five theories on the real identity of mysterious act

Britain's Got Talent's mysterious act The Witch caused a stir during the audition process on Saturday night and viewers at home have taken to Twitter to theorise who could be behind the mask.

The "scary" contestant left fans on edge as they watched the character give Amanda Holden, 51, an apple - only to crush it up and reveal a handful of maggots and cockroaches, which prompted Alesha Dixon, 43, to flee.

After the creepy-crawly surprise The Witch, disguised behind a costume and facial prosthetics, concluded with the mysterious figure disappearing in sparks while on stage.

With the act using facial prosthetics, viewers at home have begun to speculate over their identity, thinking a star could be masquerading as the character.

The rumoured individuals behind the disguise include a host of presenters, an actor who is well-known for taking on various characters and even a former BGT finalist.

Declan Donnelly

Viewers immediately theorised that it was Declan Donnelly, 46, behind the act. The presenter was seen backstage during the audition but some suspect it was edited.

A number of fans took to Twitter following the audition to speculate that it was Dec behind the Witch, with one of them theorising: "Deffo him, the eyes are exactly the same."

Fans have speculated that it could be Declan Donnelly (right) behind the act (Getty Images)

Another wrote: "Ant and Dec always look [like themselves] in 'undercover' even with all that makeup on and nobody sees it's them. I'm getting put Dec vibes off that witch."

Fans said it looked like Dec in "disguise" and "prosthetics," with one even writing: "I said it straight away and the creepy crawlies from the apples represents I'm a Celebrity."

Ant McPartlin

It's likely no surprise it was also theorised Dec's presenting partner Ant McPartlin, 46, was behind the disguise instead. Many fans were torn between them.

Others think it's actually Ant McPartlin (Getty Images)

"Definitely Ant or Dec in costume," wrote one fan following the audition. Another commented: "I can't unsee it being Ant or Dec now." Others however felt that it was Ant.

"It looked like an undercover for @itvtakeaway. He looked like Ant," said one viewer. Another had commented: "Definitely Ant. You can't mistake those eyes and forehead."

Marc Spelmann

A number of viewers speculated that it could in fact be magician Marc Spelmann, 49, underneath the prosthetics. He appeared on the show in 2018 and later as act 'X' in 2019.

Marc Spelmann competed on BGT in 2018 (Tom Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX/Shutterstock)

"Possibly a new Marc Spelmann character?," theorised one viewer. Another asked: "Anyone else think the Witch is Marc Spelmann?" They said it could be his third attempt at BGT.

Responding to such speculation, one viewer wrote on social media: "This is what I said. I think it's a great shout. [...] It's just the kinda thing he would do. I thought it instantly."

Spelmann returned to the show as magician 'X' in 2019 (ITV)

Another said they are "convinced" its Spelmann, who was a semi-finalist in 2018 and runner-up in 2019. One fan asked: "I wonder if the Witch really is Marc Spellman in costume?"

Stephen Mulhern

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Others have suggested it could be Stephen Mulhern, 45, behind the act. He's an experienced magician and is said to have once been the youngest member of the Magic Circle.

"I was thinking Stephen Mulhern in disguise," speculated one fan recently. Another tweeted that they felt similarly, writing that it's "probably Stephen Mulhern [as] he's a magician."

Another commented in response to the speculation: "I thought exactly the same." "Is it Stephen Mulhern?," asked another, whilst one similarly suggested it "might" be him.

Mark Gatiss

Another name who has been suggested by several BGT viewers is actor and comedian Mark Gatiss, 55. He's known for playing various characters on The League of Gentlemen.

Mark Gatiss was suggested as another possible theory for who's behind the act (PA)

Fans speculated that the Witch resembled him, with one saying: "Looks like Mark Gatiss." Others shared photos of him from the League of Gentlemen in response to the act.

Similarly, one fan shared a photo of the actor on Twitter and added a thinking emoji alongside the photo. The sentiment was shared by others on the social media platform.

Another responded to the theory: "My thoughts exactly." Whilst one viewer asked: "Is the Witch Mark Gatiss from [the Doctor Who episode] #TheLazarusExperiment?"

Gatiss (left) has experience taking on disguises and characters with the League of Gentlemen (Credit: BBC) (1)

Others suggested that the act reminded them of something he would produce, with one saying: "Reminds me of a Mark Gatiss creation." Another said it was "Mark Gatiss-like."

Britain's Got Talent continues on Saturday night from 8pm on ITV and ITV Hub. Previous episodes are available now.

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