Series 15 of Britain's Got Talent was aired in 2022, with the first episode being shown on Saturday 16th April. Ant & Dec returned as presenters, with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams returning on the Judging panel. This series was the first series since 2020, as the show did not air during 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the last series to feature David Walliams as in November 2022 it was leaked that he made rude comments about two contestants who competed on Series 14 during a break in taping for the show, which saw his future on the show become uncertain, before it was confirmed in 2023 that David would not be returning for the following series.[1][2][3]
The sister show BGT: Unseen Bits was repurposed for Series 15 and rather than offering fifteen minute long extra auditions over an eight episode basis on the ITV Hub alongside Social Media and YouTube Exclusives, it just simply offered footage of the hosts backstage that was cut during the broadcast of episodes, and the hosts and judges playing games such as 'Who Said What' wherein they had to attribute quotes to what acts either they themselves or the judges had told acts following performances in previous series, alongside what acts they themselves or the judges said the quotes to following their performances.
The Series introduced a new segment known as 'Golden Moments', wherein people's families will surprise people who have not had the confidence to Apply for the show and nominate them to perform despite the fact that they never applied for the show, and following this the people nominated will have the time to rehearse their act before then having to perform in front of Ant & Dec, the judges and the live studio audience. Additionally, the Series introduced a new segment known as 'Judges Golden Moments', wherein the judges surprised people who have not had the confidence to Apply for the show and nominate them to perform despite the fact that they never applied for the show, and following this the people will have the time to rehearse their act before then having to perform in front of Ant & Dec, the judges and the live studio audience.
The series marks the first time since auditions episodes have been aired for two days in a row since Series 1 as the first episode of Series 15 aired on Saturday 16th April 2022, and the second episode of the Series aired on Sunday 17th April 2022, whereas Series 1 aired each of it's audition episodes over the course of a week, before then airing the Semi-Finals and the Final on the four following days. This series also marks the first ever time that a judge retracted a buzz for an act in the Semi-Finals (Simon Cowell for Matricks Illusions) following the performance of another act who partook within the same Semi-Final (Welsh of the West End). This series also marks the first time an act was buzzed off in the live shows and the first time that a magic act failed to advance onto the Final since Series 12. Additionally, this Series marks the return of the Wildcard act, following its absence in Series 14.
In terms of Voting Statistics this Series marks the first time that a Semi-Finalist who placed 2nd in the Public Vote failed to advance to the Final as they lost the judges vote (Keiichi Iwasaki) since Series 10 (Tumar KR).
Previous Series Series 14 |
Series 15 |
Next Series Series 16 |
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Auditions[]
Main Article: Series 15 Auditions
The auditions for Series 15 were filmed between January and February in London.
Each act that performed in front of the judges was given 2 minutes to demonstrate their talents for the four judges. If an act received four buzzes then their performance is ended early. At least three "Yes" votes from the judges are required for an act to be accepted into the Next Round, otherwise, they are eliminated from the competition. Should one of the judges or Ant & Dec hit the Golden Buzzer for one of the acts, that act will be sent straight to the Semi-Finals.
Deliberation Day[]
The judges chose 35 acts to join the five Golden Buzzer acts in the Semi-Finals. For the first time ever in BGT history, Simon Cowell joined the deliberations via video link due to the fact that he were self isolating as he had contracted COVID-19.
Semi-Finals[]
40 acts from the auditions were chosen to perform in the Semi-Finals. For the first time ever, the Semi-Final acts were revealed as the Semi-Finals aired. Each of these 40 acts were from the main show due to the lack of a sister show.
Initially, Untelevised Act Evgeny Michkov advanced onto the Semi-Finals, however, he claims that he was forced to withdraw by producers due to his Russian Heritage, and due to the situation between Russia and The Ukraine.
The Semi-Finals were aired between the 30th May and the 3rd June, with the Final taking place on the 5th June.
Night 1[]
Main Article: Episode 1509
Name | Act | David | Alesha | Amanda | Simon | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mel Day | Singer | Eliminated (6th) | ||||
Born To Perform | Dance Group | Eliminated (4th) | ||||
Suzi Wild | Impressionist | Eliminated (7th) | ||||
London Community Gospel Choir | Gospel Choir | Eliminated (8th) | ||||
The Witches | Horror Magician | Eliminated (5th) | ||||
Jamie Leahey | Singer / Ventriloquist | Moved On (JC) (2nd) | ||||
Junwoo Park | Magician | Eliminated (JC) (3rd) | ||||
Maxwell Thorpe | Opera Singer | Moved On |
Night 2[]
Main Article: Episode 1510
Name | Act | David | Alesha | Amanda | Simon | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amber & The Dancing Collies | Dog Act | Wildcard (2nd) | ||||
Voices Of Armed Forces Children’s Choir | Choir | Eliminated (5th) | ||||
Ryland Petty | Magician | ElIminated (4th) | ||||
Dante Marvin | Comedic Singer | Eliminated (6th) | ||||
Flintz & T4ylor | Pianist / Rapper | Moved On (JC) (3rd) | ||||
Ranger Chris Roberts | Dance Group / Variety Act | Eliminated (7th) | ||||
Ben Nickless | Comedic Impressionist / Singer | Moved On | ||||
Andrew Basso | Escapologist | Eliminated (8th) |
Night 3[]
Main Article: Episode 1511
Name | Act | David | Alesha | Amanda | Simon | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Les Sancho | Dance Group | ElIminated (8th) | ||||
Immi Davis | Singer | Eliminated (4th) | ||||
The Freaks | Acrobatic Group | Eliminated (5th) | ||||
Dane Bates Collective | Dance Group | ElIminated (6th) | ||||
Eva Abley | Comedian | Moved On (JC) (3rd) | ||||
The Dots | Comedy Group / Vocal Trio | Eliminated (7th) | ||||
Keiichi Iwasaki | Magician | Eliminated (JC)(2nd) | ||||
Tom Ball | Singer | Moved On |
Night 4[]
Main Article: Episode 1512
Name | Act | David | Alesha | Amanda | Simon | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dame Nation | Variety Act | Eliminated (8th) | ||||
5 Star Boys | Ballet Dance Group | Moved On (JC) (2nd) | ||||
The Frontline Singers | Choir | Eliminated (4th) | ||||
Mary P | Mary Poppins Impersonator | Eliminated (5th) | ||||
The Phantom | Horror Magician | Eliminated (JC) (3rd) | ||||
Stefano Paolini | Comedian | Eliminated (7th) | ||||
Titan The Robot | Variety Act | Eliminated (6th) | ||||
Loren Allred | Singer | Moved On |
Note: Simon retracted his buzz for Dame Nation during the comments.
Night 5[]
Main Article: Episode 1513
Name | Act | David | Alesha | Amanda | Simon | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matricks Illusions | Magicians / Quick Change Artists | Eliminated (8th) | ||||
The Scooter Boys | Variety Act | Eliminated (4th) | ||||
Welsh of the West End | Choir | Eliminated (JC) (3rd) | ||||
Aneeshwar Kunchala | Poet | Moved On (JC) (2nd) | ||||
Brian and Krysstal | Comedy / Singing Duo | Eliminated (7th) | ||||
IMD Legion | Street Dance Group | Eliminated (6th) | ||||
Nick Edwards | Singer / Guitarist | Eliminated (5th) | ||||
Axel Blake | Comedian | Moved On |
Note: Simon retracted his buzz for Matricks Illusions following the performance of Welsh of the West End.
Grand Final[]
Main Article: Episode 1514
Name | Act | David | Alesha | Amanda | Simon | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jamie Leahey | Ventriloquist / Singer | 2nd Place | ||||
Amber & The Dancing Collies | Dog Act | 10th place | ||||
5 Star Boys | Dance Group | 11th place | ||||
Flintz & T4ylor | Pianist / Rapper | 6th place | ||||
Aneeshwar Kunchala | Poet | 7th place | ||||
Eva Abley | Comedian | 5th place | ||||
Tom Ball | Singer | 3rd Place | ||||
Ben Nickless | Comedic Impressionist / Singer | 8th place | ||||
Loren Allred | Singer | 9th Place | ||||
Axel Blake | Comedian | Winner | ||||
Maxwell Thorpe | Singer | 4th Place |