Outraged fans of Britain’s Got Talent have cried ‘fix’ after it emerged that a Golden Buzzer act has previously collaborated with a major pop star. The beloved ITV talent show made its comeback on Saturday, showcasing a plethora of acts from around the nation vying for the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance and to bag the whopping £250,000 prize money.
It didn’t take long for one act to capture the hearts of the nation with her singing prowess, securing her place in the live shows. 39-year-old Taryn Charles brought the house down with her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, leaving the audience and judges – Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Bruno Tonioli, and Alesha Dixon – on their feet in applause.
The judges lavished praise on her for the stunning performance. Bruno was so moved by Taryn’s performance that he hit his Golden Buzzer, catapulting her directly into the live semi-finals.
Taryn, who disclosed that she is a special needs educator and uses music therapeutically with children, shared during her audition that her goal on the show was to “make people smile.”
However, some sharp-eyed fans identified Taryn as having previously appeared on Starstruck, hosted by Olly Murs, where contestants emulate their musical heroes.
The show features a judging panel of Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert, and Beverley Knight.
Disgruntled viewers didn’t hesitate to voice their concerns, with some taking to X (Twitter) to claim there was a “fix”.
One viewer commented: “Taryn Charles is already a professional singer, so you would expect her to have a good voice. Not fair on all the amateurs.” (sic)
Another added: “I remember Taryn from Starstruck #BGT.” (sic)
A third viewer remarked: “Yet again another professional singer? ? Taryn Charles. What has happened to #BGT?” (sic)
In contrast, judges and audiences were captivated by the performance of dancers Abigail, aged seven, and Afronitaaa, 20, hailed as ‘the best audition yet. ‘ Amanda praised them, saying: “You are two of the most fantastic dancers we have ever had on Britain’s Got Talent.”
However, some fans were disappointed that the duo did not receive a Golden Buzzer. On Twitter, one person lamented: “@antanddec should’ve broken the rules and pushed the golden buzzer a second time for Abigail. THAT is what that buzzer is for! #BGT #BritainsGotTalent.” (sic)
While another said: “That last act was amazing .. really deserved a golden buzzer #BGT” and yet another expressed disbelief: “No golden buzzer? How? #BGT.” (sic)
Britain’s Got Talent continues next Sunday at 7:40pm on ITV and ITVX.
