British magician Jack Rhodes and Japanese Double Dutch group Haribow have joined the Britain’s Got Talent grand final line-up.
Judge Simon Cowell said nuclear engineer-turned-magician Jack is ‘the favourite to win the entire competition’ after a ‘jaw-dropping’ performance during the second live semi-final of the ITV talent competition on Tuesday.
Japanese skipping group Haribow also won a spot in Sunday’s final after Simon said they were ‘one of the best acts we’ve ever had’ based on ‘skill and being unique’.
The pair join South African opera singer Innocent Masuku and South Korean taekwondo group Ssaulabi Performance Troupe on the bill for the final after they were voted through on Monday.
And, despite viewers complaining about the lack of British acts featuring in the semi-finals so far, some show fans were unimpressed Jack had made it through to the last round of the competition even though he hails from the UK.
British magician Jack Rhodes (pictured) and Japanese Double Dutch group Haribow have joined the Britain’s Got Talent grand final line-up – with viewers divided by the result
Japanese skipping group Haribow also won a spot in Sunday’s final after Simon said they were ‘one of the best acts we’ve ever had’ based on ‘skill and being unique’
The second live semi-final of the week saw magic man Jack receive the most votes from the public and win an automatic final place, after a performance involving card tricks, dynamite and the magician breaking out of a TV.
‘You really are one in a million, you’ve got everything,’ Simon said, while fellow judge Alesha Dixon added: ‘I love the fact that you take the mickey out of yourself, but actually you are a show-off in the best way.’
Voicing their opinion on Jack on social media, one person wrote on Twitter: ‘Jack Rhodes is a nice bloke. And he’s British! Yeehah!’
They added: ‘A little bit of faith has been restored in the voting public. Jack Rhodes going through is absolutely the correct choice.’
Another person wrote: ‘Congratulations to Jack Rhodes as the sole British representative in #BritainsGotTalent #BGT.’
While someone else shared: ‘Jack Rhodes winning tonight’s show. Can’t lie I’m shocked I didn’t think he was that good.’
‘Jack won the public vote? Jack? Erm OK,’ posted someone else.
While another audience member at home wrote: ‘Wasn’t impressed with the winning #bgtact Jack Rhodes. A lot of smoke and mirrors for a very basic trick.’
Despite viewers complaining about the lack of British acts featuring in the semi-finals so far, some show fans were unimpressed Jack had made it through to the last round
Congratulating him, someone else posted: ‘Well done Jack Rhodes. What a magician – the best I’ve seen just awesome.’
But someone else offered: ‘Jack Rhode’s act could barely be called magic. Didn’t get into the box, that was a double, moved to the TV box when dark, box under TV was 45 degree mirror, he found Simon’s card by….well….his eyes?’
‘People slating Jack Rhodes act. I’d like to see you climb out of a tv,’ wrote someone else as they defended him.
But another person wrote simply: ‘Jack Rhodes sucks.’
One other person declared: ‘Jack Rhodes shouldn’t have made the final His act was boring and he took too long to get going with the main magic trick.’
And someone else commented: ‘Hopefully Jack will be better in the final. He WAS good in the auditions.’
Double Dutch group Haribow, who have only been skipping together for four years, achieved the audience Golden Buzzer during their first audition, meaning they were automatically sent through to the next round.
‘Going back to that audition, it was honestly one of the biggest reactions we’ve ever ever had on an audition,’ Cowell said after their energetic semi-final show.
Jack (right) was delighted by the news he had made it through to Sunday’s final (pictured with BGT host Declan Donelly, left)
Haribow were ecstatic when it was announced they had made it to the final, with the group hugging each other when they heard the news
The group beat choir Ravi’s Dream Team for the final spot on the bill. They were Alesha’s golden buzzer choice during the auditions.
The choir, who advocate for brain tumour charities after Ravi Adelekan was diagnosed with a benign tumour in his brain stem at the age of six, sang a rendition of Take That’s Greatest Day.
‘That’s what I call a moment,’ Simon told the group.
Ravi said after their Britain’s Got Talent audition aired on TV that celebrities had been in contact with him including Jack Grealish, Jermaine Jenas, Monica Galetti, Paloma Faith “and Coldplay’s drummer”.
The cast of Disney’s Frozen The Musical opened the live show singing hit songs from the musical, before co-hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly came on stage holding character Olaf’s hand.
They were praised by the judging panel for their slick performance, with Amanda describing the group as ‘box ready’.
The audience at home was quick to take to social media to point out the boyband had already had some success in Korea, where they were formed by record label Wuzo Entertainment in 2021.
Viewers also hit out at other acts, including cheerleaders Lady Grenades who have travelled the world to compete in international competitions, while noting a minimal amount of the performers were actually British despite the show’s name.
Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left fuming during the second live semi-final of the series on Tuesday as the judges praised already established K-pop band Blitzers
Viewers also hit out at other acts, including cheerleaders Lady Grenades who have travelled the world to compete in international competition
South Korean Blitzers band were one of the acts to face the viewing public and judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli
Blitzers’ first EP Check-In reached number 12 in the Korean charts that same year, with their second, Seat-Belt, getting to number 11 just five months later, and their third, reaching Win-Dow in 2022.
They have also released five singles in Korea and had songs featured on two soundtracks.
The fact the group were so highly praised by the judges left some viewers less than impressed, with many taking to social media to express their frustration.
One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Amanda: You seem box ready. Errrr… that’s because they are. Blitzer are an established K-Pop group who have already enjoyed success. No issue with them using the show to reach UK audiences, but please don’t have the judges pretend they don’t know
While someone else shared: ‘Is this K-pop band a professional act already in their own country? Seem far too slick and professional alongside the other acts. Not my thing at all. But I can see they are going to get through.’
‘The blitzers being on is not on they are already famous,’ wrote someone else.
While another viewer asked: ‘Aren’t Blitzers already a very successful k-pop band in Korea?’
Someone else queried: ‘These K-pop seem like more industry plants. How successful are they in Korea/asia?’
While someone else remarked: ‘This act feels less about showcasing new talent and more about Simon Cowell pushing an established K-pop band onto the UK market.’
They were praised by the panel for their slick performance, with Amanda describing the group as ‘box ready’
Blitzers were formed by record label Wuzo Entertainment in Korea 2021 and first EP Check-In reached number 12 in the Korean charts that same year
Elsewhere, viewers noted that cheerleaders Lady Grenades were also experienced, having travelled the world to compete in international competitions
The under 18 cheerleading team are part of the Coventry Dynamite Cheerleading collective and last month competed in the USASF cheerleading worlds in Florida
The audience at home was quick to take to social media to point out K-pop boyband Blitzers had already had some success in Korea
Another viewer who is already a fan of the band, wrote: ‘Can all of us k-pop stans or blitzers stans watching agree we will definitely vote for them to get to the final tonight!’
Blitzers, aged between 19 and 22, opted to perform their own version of Shawn Mendes’s There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back despite having their own music, and ended up wowing the judges during their first audition earlier in the series.
The first ever K-pop band to feature on the British talent show got four yeses from the judges and will head into the next round.
Britain’s Got Talent live semi-finals will air each day until Friday at 8pm, with Sunday’s final at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.