EXCLUSIVE: Britain’s Got Talent’s first ever winner Paul Potts didn’t hold back on his thoughts as he discussed this year’s remaining acts, who are hoping to win the show this weekend
15:00, 30 May 2025Updated 15:10, 30 May 2025
Britain’s Got Talent champion Paul Potts won the show in 2007
Britain’s Got Talent champion Paul Potts doesn’t believe magician Harry Moulding deserved KSI’s golden buzzer last week.
The 24-year-old received a standing ovation after impressing all four judges and audiences once again with his eyebrow-raising magic act.
As part of his latest performance, Harry requested an audience member named Jess to join him on stage and watch a pre-recorded video he filmed in Paris.
The recording featured Harry meeting Jess’ boyfriend, also named Harry, which led to the latter then popping the question to Jess live on stage.
Reflecting on this act, Paul, in partner with Sky Vegas, said: “I think that the set up was too obvious to see.
“I don’t think he deserved the golden buzzer – they just got caught up in a romantic situation. There were quite a few errors [in his act]. I’m not saying that he wasn’t clever, but all these magic acts are set up and made up.
“It was definitely set up and it just could have been more polished.”
After some viewers branded his act a “fix”, Harry recently said on ITV’s Lorraine: “For me, with magic, you are always going to get people criticising, you are always going to get people having their opinions, which is great and with magic, it often leads to thinking it is a fix.
“It was not a fix, Jess had absolutely no idea what was going to happen and again, to just share and create that moment for them, live on TV on one of the biggest shows in the world, it meant everything.”
Furthermore, Paul has issued a warning to the four singing acts in this year’s final, following his own experience on the show.
The 54-year-old, who claimed victory back in 2007, believes having too many singers in the final could be risky.
He said: “There was always that risk that you’d end up with too many singers and then have them [cancelling] each other out. That could still happen and there have been similar stories.”
Paul was particularly sad to see singer C.J Emmons miss out on a spot in the final last week, adding: “He had a great voice.
“He had the potential to make it to the final. People are aware though that if the final becomes too singer-heavy then it kind of ruins it a little bit.”
Stacey Leadbeatter is one of the singers competing in the Britain’s Got Talent final
The tenor added that while it may be more challenging for those singing this weekend, he also believes they have a better chance at “connecting” with the audience.
“They are going to cancel each other out to some point,” he predicted.
“It’s going to be who gets the right song and really connects with the audience.
“There is always a good chance for a singer to win because it’s far easier for a singer to connect in many ways.”
Those hoping to win the £250,000 cash prize and a spot on the Royal Variety Show are; Vinnie McKee, Stacey Leadbeatter, Ping Pong Pang, Hear Our Voice, Binita Chetry, The Blackouts, Olly Pearson, Jasmine Rice, Joseph Charm, and Harry Moulding.
Sharing his thoughts on who he thinks could clinch victory this year, Paul added: “It’s hard to pick out an individual but I think it’s going to be an act from outside of the UK. You’ve got The Blackouts who are one of the favourites.”
Britain’s Got Talent: The Final airs Saturday at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.