Fans of Britain's Got Talent rejoiced on Saturday night as the ITV talent show returned, with hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly at the helm for another season filled with both awkward auditions and extraordinary hidden talents.The new series marks the 17th installment of the talent show, which debuted in 2007 and continues to spotlight top-notch acts from across the globe.
With a panel of judges including Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli, the show serves as a springboard for aspiring talents, offering them the opportunity to compete for a coveted spot on the Royal Variety Performance stage - and £250,000.
From the wild and wacky to the performances that tug at the heartstrings, The Standard looks back at all the show’s winners.
2007: Paul Potts
In the inaugural season of the series, Paul Potts, originally a manager at Carphone Warehouse who later became an opera singer emerged as the 2007 winner.
Following his victory, the Bristol native embarked on a global tour, captivating audiences in the US, Toronto and Korea. He also showcased his vocal talents in operas such as The Marriage Of Figaro and Don Carlos.
His remarkable journey was even immortalised in the film One Chance with James Corden portraying him on screen.
Based in Port Talbot with his wife Julie-Ann, he most recent public appearance came in 2022 when he competed on the Masked Singer Germany, revealing himself as Koala during the third episode of the series.
2008: George Sampson
George Sampson was crowned Britain's Got Talent winner at the tender age of 14 with his mesmerising street dance routine.
Despite not making it to the live semi-finals in the first series after an earlier audition, he made a triumphant return in 2008, captivating audiences with his dynamic performance to Mint Royale's rendition of Singin’ In The Rain.
Following his triumph, the song soared to the top of the UK downloads chart, prompting Simon Cowell's record label to invite him to create a video for the track. The young star then ventured into acting, portraying Kyle Stack in Waterloo Road and playing Dean in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
Sampson has been in a relationship with actress Kazmin Borrer for three years, having met her during a theatre production.
2009: Diversity
In 2009, dance troupe Diversity caused upset when they beat frontrunner Susan Boyle to win the third series.
Following their performance at the Royal Variety Show, the group led by Ashley Banjo embarked on a successful dance career, undertaking several UK tours and even fronting a Sky series, Ashley Banjo’s Secret Dance Crew.
Now, Ashley now serves as a judge on ITV’s Dancing On Ice. The troupe is no stranger to the ice with member Perri Kiely competing on the series in 2020. He has also appeared on Celebrity Great British Bake Off and Splash!.
Elsewhere, Kiely along with fellow dancer Jordan Banjo have also turned their attention to radio and present KISS Breakfast with Jordan & Perri. The troupe continues to tour.
2010: Spelbound
Spelbound, a gymnastics ensemble, captivated judges in 2010 with their breathtaking flips, leaps, and stunts, clinching victory.
Post-BGT, the group underwent several lineup changes as some members retired while others pursued higher education.
They delivered two remarkable routines at the close of the London 2012 Olympic Games and were featured in a Channel 4 telethon before returning to the Royal Variety Performance later that year.
They have also performed around the world including places such as Doha, Portugal and Spain. Since winning, many of their members have now left to be gymnastic coaches or to pursue solo careers.
2011: Jai MacDowall
Scottish singer Jai MacDowall captivated both the audience and judges in 2011 with his spellbinding vocals on BGT following years of auditioning for shows like The X Factor and American Idol.
He continued to impress on the BGT tour before securing a record deal with Simon Cowell's label, Syco, in 2011. MacDowall headlined a sold-out show at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock and later shared the stage with Josh Groban at the Royal Concert Hall.
Following the release of his debut album under Cowell's label, he was dropped by Syco in 2012 and was signed elsewhere. He returned to Britain's Got Talent: The Champions in 2019, and then released a new single, a cover of John Legend's All Of Me, in 2021.
MacDowall continues to perform, most recently starring in a UK tour of the production Come What May.
2012: Ashleigh and Pudsey
The dynamic dog and owner won the 2012 season of Britain's Got Talent. Pudsey, the talented dancing dog, was impeccably trained by Ashleigh and delivered an adorable routine to the tune of Mission Impossible.
Following their appearance at the Royal Variety Performance, the pair went on to star in their own film, Ashleigh And Pudsey: The Movie. They also made numerous television appearances, including serving as judges on shows like That Dog Can Dance! and Who Let The Dogs Out?
Tragically, Pudsey passed away in 2017, prompting Ashleigh to train a new furry companion named Sully. In 2023, the skilled dog trainer announced that she and Sully had landed a spot on the GB Agility Team.
2013: Attraction
The Hungarian shadow art ensemble delivered a series of poignant performances during the 2013 season of the show.
Their act often moved Amanda to tears, making them the first foreign group to win BGT.
Following their victory, they starred in a TV ad and even landed their own show in Las Vegas. In 2019, they competed on America's Got Talent: The Champions but fell short of reaching the final.
Then, in 2022, a new generation of Attraction members, known as Attraction Juniors, auditioned for BGT again, although they failed to the semi-finals.
2014: Collabro
In 2014, musical theatre singing group Collabro won BGT with a stirring rendition of Stars from Les Miserables.
Following their win, the band, which consisted of Michael Auger, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan, Thomas J. Redgrave and Richard Hadfield, who quit the group in June 2016, released their debut album Stars under Cowell's record label Syco, which soared to the top of the charts.
Collabro then embarked on a successful tour in 2015, and even went on to headline the London Palladium.
Their success continued as they signed a £1million record deal with Sony Masterworks in the US. Despite several other shows and records, they announced in August 2022 their decision to part ways after one final album and tour.
2015: Jules and Matisse
Just three years after Ashleigh and Pudsey, another talented performing dog act claimed victory, but not without controversy, when it was discovered that Jules O’Dwyer had incorporated a second dog, Chase (bearing a resemblance to Matisse), in the final performance.
Although Ofcom determined that guidelines had been breached with viewers being misled, and despite over 200 Ofcom complaints, Cowell allowed O’Dwyer to kept £250,000 prize money.
O’Dwyer now resides in Belgium with her wife Marie France, having said that she struggled to adapt to her newfound fame.
2016: Lance Corporal Richard Jones
Lance Corporal Richard Jones, a magician, was crowned BGT winner in 2016.
As the first magician to claim victory on the long-running talent show, the former soldier has since achieved considerable success with his television series Operation Magic and Power of Imagination.
Additionally, he has showcased his magic skills across the UK performing alongside the Band Of The Household Cavalry.
2017: Tokio Myers
Tokio Myers, a pianist and music producer, won the 11th installment of the show. Following his BGT victory, he released his debut album Our Generation, which went gold in 2021.
Since then, Myers has teamed up with music sensation Ed Sheeran and even clinched Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Classic Brits in 2018.
Additionally, he contributed to the charity single Bridge Over Troubled Water for the Grenfell Tower fire victims. Now with three Classical Brit Awards under his belt and an appearance on America's Got Talent: The Champions, Tokio is now focusing on philanthropy by aiming to establish a music school for underprivileged children.
2018: Lost Voice Guy
Lee Ridley, famously known as The Lost Voice Guy, captured the hearts of the nation with his comedic prowess in 2018. Nearly six years since his win, he continues to entertain audiences nationwide, has written a book I'm Only In It For The Parking and runs his own merchandise line.
Ridley, who has cerebral palsy, has also co-written and starred in the Radio 4 sitcom Ability as well as BBC Three’s Jerk.
He has also been recognised with a BBC New Comedy award and hosted his own TV show, Lost Voice Guy's Christmas Comedy Club.
2019: Colin Thackery
British Korean War veteran Colin Thackery stands out as one of the show’s most cherished acts and became the oldest-ever winner of Britain's Got Talent aged 89.
His rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings moved audiences to tears, while his semi-final performance featured a heartwarming collaboration with a large group of Chelsea Pensioners.
In 2022, Thackery marked a milestone by releasing his debut single, Love Changes Everything, which soared to Number 13 in the charts.
Additionally, he made a poignant return to BGT the same year, delivering a touching performance alongside the Chelsea Pensioners choir and several other acts.
2020: Jon Courtenay
Comedian Jon Courtenay brought much-needed cheer during the challenging times of the 2020 lockdown. Following his triumph, he embarked on a nationwide tour, What’s it all About?.
Amidst his triumph, the comedic pianist revealed he was diagnosed with skin cancer after a mole discovered during BGT filming turned out to be a melanoma. Fortunately, he received the all-clear and resumed touring with his comedy show.
He has since performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and also fronted a podcast titled Alpha-Bet My Life. Courtenay resides in Mossley with his wife Emma and their two sons, Nathan and Alfie.
2022: Axel Blake
Comedian Axel Blake left a lasting impression on all judges, particularly Simon, who awarded him a golden buzzer on BGT in 2022.
Post-BGT, he made appearances on CBBC's Saturday Mashup and Celebrity Lingo alongside Ellie Taylor.
The following year, Axel participated in America's Got Talent: All Stars but was eliminated in the preliminaries. He continues to tour the UK, with his latest show, Axel Blake- In Style.
2023: Viggo Venn
Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn initially failed to win over Simon during his audition, prompting a buzz out.
However, he defied the odds last year with his uproarious skits, often featuring him donning high-visibility vests, over runners-up magician Cillian O'Connor, 14, and 13-year-old gymnastic dancer Liliana Clifton to win Britain’s Got Talent.
His win earned him a spot at the 2023 Royal Variety Show following his triumph on BGT.
