Britain’s Got Talent recorded its lowest ever ratings for Sunday night’s finale.
5.3 million tuned in to see Norwegian comedian Vigko Venn crowned the winner, the lowest average for a final in the show’s 16-year history.
At the height of its success, 18.5 million fans tuned in to see Diversity win the 2009 final against Susan Boyle, who returned to the show on Sunday night.
Last year’s final was watched by 6 million viewers, and the 2020 final was watched by 5.9 million viewers.
No catch-up or online viewing in nightly numbers.
Meanwhile, viewers have called for the ITV show to be canceled after dancer Lilliana Clifton, 13 and 14-year-old magician Cillian O’Connor missed out on the £250,000 prize money for comedian Viggo Venn.
After dancing in a hi-vis jacket to Daft Punk’s One More Time, hosts Ant and Dec announced the comedian as the winner to cheers from the studio audience.
Some viewers criticized the referendum results on Twitter using the hashtag #CancelBGT.
’So glad I stopped watching BGT. The show has gone to hell with comedy acts like Viggo instead of talented people about the show and the judges have no spine and are allowing the crowd to cancel now,” tweeted one angry viewer.
’#BGT is well and truly over! Cancel now! I get paid minimum wage for wearing a hi vis jacket and now some troops from Norway have been paid £250k to wear it!! The world has gone mad!’ He agreed to another.
’@BGT cancel the show permanently/axe; The flowers in the crowd say it all – the worst winner ever in the history of the show!!!!! How did this sideshow succeed????? He really has no talent!!!’
’Haven’t watched any #BGT this year and think it’s about time. But I thought I should watch the final. Rooting for Lilliana Clifton, amazing talent! Can’t believe the stupid joke act won the time to cancel the entire show.
Others insisted that while the result was surprising, Vigo was not worthy of the euphoria.
’It was very surprising. But Vigo was a lot of fun. It’s so disgusting that anyone should spit on Vigo. It’s not his fault that he won, people voted for him and no one else. It had a sad ending due to the reaction of the audience. Well done, Vigo!!! #BritainsGotTalent #BGT2023 #bgt,’ one tweeted.
While another tweeted, „Lots of boos when #ViggoVenn was announced as the winner of #BritainsGotTalent. I thought he was great but a shocker left out of the final 3 and everyone thought the lad was going to win. #BGT2023 #BGT A shortened series , the bottom-beating end.’
Judge Alesha Dixon told Viggo during the finale that he had 'conquered the nation and they love you’.
„Totalny pionier w sieci. Specjalista od piwa niezależny. Ewangelista popkultury. Miłośnik muzyki. Nieprzepraszający przedsiębiorca”.