Britain's Got Talent embroiled in 'fix' row as viewers slam 'staged' audition as Simon Cowell interrupts contestant: 'Had enough'

Last night, Charity fundraiser Ace Clurk nervously took to the stage and sung his rendition of Harry Styles' As It Was, but whilst Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden were impressed with his vocals, Cowell wasn't.

Mid-note, Cowell unconvincingly stopped a contestant and asked if he had another song, noting: "Can I suggest something? I don't think the key was right and I think you were nervous.

"But I think you're interesting. Did you bring a second song?"

Clurk replied: "Yeah, I do, I do," before revealing his second song choice to be Lovely by Billie Eilish.

Cowell agreed and said: "All right, let's give that one a go," but after the song had ended, the music mogul was still unconvinced with his talent.

Giving his comments, Cowell noted: "I think it's one of those auditions where not everyone's expected to like the same things. There were times were I thought: 'This is really good'.

"And there were other times where I thought: 'Actually, this is getting a little bit boring, actually'."

The audience booed Cowell, but after being used to the criticism of his opinions, he added: "But, that's what I'm saying, if we all bought the same record then you know, life would be a bit weird wouldn't it?

"I do think you're very talented and you come over as a very sincere person who really wants this break. I think you're interesting and I think that's a really, really good thing. So, you deserve a shot. It's a yes, well done."

Holden, who was the last judge to vote, exclaimed to an ecstatic Clurk: "You've got four yesses. You're through!"

Whilst the audience was thrilled with the outcome, fans of the show on X were not happy with the stunt that Cowell pulled and left one to comment: "Oh FFS 2nd song here we f*****g go. Utter fix #BGT #BritainsGotTalent."

"Sorry, but Ace was average. And that whole thing about the second song is so tired #BGT #BritainsGotTalent," another added before a third said: "Agreed, the 'Have you got a second song?' ruse has often been played before and shows #BritainsGotTalent #BGT up as being more than a bit staged."

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A fourth viewer exclaimed: "Ace with his 2nd song so not staged #BGT. Had enough."

"Louis [Walsh] already told us this request for another song is staged - so quit it with the fake nervousness everyone #BGT," someone else quipped. (sic)