BRITAIN’S Got Talent will be playing with fire this weekend as the finale is set to be the most dangerous one yet.
With excitement hitting fever pitch, hosts Ant and Dec reveal the extreme measures put in place to protect one dangerous act.
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Liwei Yang will bring dangerous fire acrobatics to the Britain’s Got Talent final in a bid to wow viewers and judges
Ant and Dec have revealed the extreme measures put in place to protect Liwei Credit: Eroteme
Liwei Yang will be turning up the heat tomorrow night with her risky acrobatics crossed with an inferno – hoping it will set the hearts of the viewers and judges alight.
And BGT bosses are taking no chances when it comes to safety and are pulling out all the stops to make sure it all goes to plan.
“Lots of medics, yeah,” explained Ant. “And there’s loads of fire safety people around the back in the wings waiting with buckets and, you know, the fire blankets and fire extinguishers, just in case anything goes wrong.”
Taiwanese performer Liwei herself admits her stunts could go seriously wrong – but is rehearsing to the max to get it right.
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“Of course, the nerves are definitely there!” she said. “Fire dance is inherently dangerous, and it took countless hours of practice for my body to naturally memorize the feeling of leaping through the flames.”
Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI will be hoping their eyebrows don’t get singed as they watch on.
This year’s competition culminates tomorrow night, with the winner picking up the £250,000 prize and the amazing opportunity to sing for King Charles at the Royal Variety Performance.
The 10-strong final features singer Matty Juniosa, dog act Anastasiia and Salsa, dance groups Sadeck Berrabah and LMA, magicians Fabian Fox and Rafferty Coope, poet Sonny Green, drone art collective Celestial, The Hawkstone Farmers Choir, comedian Ted Hill and fire-juggler Liwei Yang all battle it out.
Taiwanese performer Liwei herself admits her stunts could go seriously wrong
Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI will be hoping their eyebrows don’t get singed as they watch Liwei perform
Ant and Dec say it’s set to be one of the best ever thanks to the show’s format change.
This year the live semi-finals were played out over five Saturdays compared to over one week, like earlier series.
“Our golden buzzer act, Ted Hill, is honing his act,” said Dec on the duo’s Hanging Out With podcast.
“I think he’s got a good chance of winning. He was really funny in the semi-finals. It was a real step up from his audition and you don’t always see that.
“Because a lot of people in the past just repeat what they did in the semi-final and it never really goes down well.
“Now it’s every Saturday, it gives the acts more chance to rehearse and really hone their act. So they give us a really good final performance.”
Sonny is favourite to win, with The Hawkstone Farmers Choir second favourite and Celestial third.
Amanda said Jeremy Clarkson, who founded the choir, is backing the group to go all the way.
“He’s so encouraging, generous and absolutely 100% behind them emotionally too,” she said.
Watch the Britain’s Got Final on Saturday on ITV1 at 7pm.
Matty’s gagging to win
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Matty Juniosa says he practises his gag reflex before performances to stop himself being sick on stage Credit: TDD
Musical theatre performer Matty Juniosa has a rather unusual pre-show warm-up – he practises his gag reflex so he doesn’t throw up on stage.
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Matty said: “Breathing really helps with my nerves, but oddly, I also have to induce gagging to prevent me from puking mid-performance.”
The Filipino star is currently in rehearsals for stage show Jesus Christ Superstar alongside singers Boy George and Sam Ryder.
He is being backed to win tomorrow’s BGT final by former champ Sydnie Christmas and Katseye singer Sophia Laforteza – and knows just what he’d do with the prize money.
“Buy a flat for myself and give some to my mum,” Matty says. “Invest in my music and help young Filipino performers get arts education. Probably pay [dating app] Raya to get a boyfriend, too. Just kidding.”
It turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks, with Anastasiia and her border collie Salsa “preparing something special” they have never done before for the final. “We are working on a new dance, and I am going to use a prop!” says Anastasiia, before adding: “I hope it works!”
Raff’s laughs for King
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Rafferty Coope says it’s straight back to college after the final — insisting he’s still a ‘normal 17-year-old boy’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
It’ll be back to reality with a bump for musical magician Rafferty Coope as he returns to college bright and early on Monday – win or lose.
“I’m a normal 17-year-old boy,” he said with a laugh.
“Straight after my semi-final, the day after that, I went into a drama exam. So back to normal. My friends have been so supportive, they’re keeping me grounded.”
With a chance to perform for the King, Rafferty says he’d love to show his tricks to all the Royal Family. “King Charles is in the magic circle,” he said. “And I think he would love what I do.
“But most importantly, I’d love to inspire the younger generation of royals, his grandkids, to maybe one day get them into music or magic.”
Si’s look is down to a tee
Will he, or won’t he… ditch his trademark t-shirt and jeans combo for the final? Credit: Getty
If you think all eyes were going to be on Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon’s outfits you could be wrong.
Simon Cowell’s style choices are up for scrutiny tomorrow and has left us all wondering if he’ll dress for the occasion and finally ditch his trademark t-shirt and jeans combo.
“I kinda like that Simon is now just going for comfort!” laughed Amanda, who will no doubt be dressed to the nines in a revealing number.
“He seemingly just doesn’t care… only about the show! The rest of us love a dress up, including KSI.
“I’m hoping he does dust off a suit or something for the Grand Final though!
“I liked it when he wore a good tee and combat trousers in Blackpool!
“He looked pumped and ready for action, especially after his push-ups before the first auditions of the day.”
Poet Sonny Green has big plans if he wins the cash prize. “I’d make sure I had a good time with my family and made memories,” he said. “I might even be able to afford a World Cup ticket!” But even if he wins he’ll keep his day job. “I’d love to keep trading down at the markets,” he added.
Rivals so ready to party
Amanda Holden was among those joining early drinks as The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir kicked off celebrations after their semi-final success Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The finalists plan to let their hair down with a few shandies – and I hear one of tonight’s acts loves a good party.
The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir kicked off early celebrations after their semi-final triumph last weekend.
Jeremy Clarkson, who founded the choir, put a tab behind the bar at a Hammersmith pub, which sells his beer.
Katryna Shell said: “We were toasting with a Hawkstone. We were hungover the next day – but we were on such a high.”
Judge Amanda joined them – as did rivals Celestial.
The drone act’s John “JP” Partridge says: “I’m sure we’d get together with the other contestants and celebrate after the final too.”
Amanda says: “I joined them for a pint of Hawkstone to congratulate them on being voted into the final!”
