Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn, who “captured the heart of the nation” with his high-vis inspired routines, has been crowned the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2023.
Venn, who said at his first audition that he wanted to become a British comedian, scooped the £250,000 prize, as well as a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance after his live grand final performance on the ITV talent show.
He had the judges in fits of laughter when he forced Simon Cowell to wear a matching high-vis jacket as rose petals were thrown over the pair before the whole audience erupted into high-vis.
Our #BGT2023 WINNER is... VIGGO VENN!!
Congratulations, you have just won £250,000 and a spot on the bill at The Royal Variety Performance 🥳#BGT #BritainsGotTalent #BGTFinal @viggovenn pic.twitter.com/mIh2UL8u1J— BGT (@BGT) June 4, 2023
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The audience were in raptures after the performance, chanting: “One more time”, in reference to his first audition on the show where he danced to Daft Punk’s hit.
Alesha Dixon said: “You’ve captivated the nation, they love you,” while Bruno Tonioli said: “I think your physical comedy is world-class, you have created one of the most memorable characters since Mr Bean.”
Cowell said: “At least you didn’t make me look stupid tonight. I have never ever met an act like you in my life, I will admit it, I really really love you now.”
When host Declan Donnelly asked why so many high-vis jackets, Venn said: “I wear so many high-vis because it’s really cold in Norway.”
Here's that FANTASTIC WINNING performance ONE MORE TIME: https://t.co/xgPd5mjdjs #BritainsGotTalent #BGTFinal #BGT2023 #BGT pic.twitter.com/uedXq3H963
Advertisement— BGT (@BGT) June 4, 2023
After winning the show, Donnelly asked how he felt to have “captured the heart of the nation”, to which he said: “Not just the heart of Britain, but the heart of Simon.”
Venn’s triumph came in a year dominated by child stars, with 13-year-old dancer Lilliana Clifton and 14-year-old magician Cillian O’Connor finishing second and third respectively.
A surprise came when former contestant Susan Boyle appeared for a performance of her 2009 audition song I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables, with the cast of the West End production.
The 62-year-old also joined the cast in performing a rendition of Do You Hear The People Sing?
It was so wonderful having @SusanBoyle back on the #BGT stage performing. And this is how much it means to her! ❤️#BritainsGotTalent #BGTFinal #BGT2023 pic.twitter.com/GC174nqOHA
— BGT (@BGT) June 4, 2023
After the performance, she said: “It feels great (to be here). It’s extra special for me. Last April I suffered a minor stroke and I fought to be back on stage and I have done it.”
Cowell said: “Susan, we owe you so much. I knew you weren’t well but if anyone was going to come back, you were going to come back, it wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Other child stars who dominated the final included Tonioli’s golden buzzer act Ghetto Kids, who opened the show with a routine to a medley of songs including Africa by Toto and shared a flag of their home country of Uganda.
Holden’s golden buzzer choice, 11-year-old Olivia Lynes, also wowed the judges with a rendition of Let It Go from Disney classic Frozen, while Cowell’s golden buzzer choice, singer Malakai Bayoh, 14, brought tears to Tonioli’s eyes.
The live final saw an emotional rendition of Christina Aguilera’s ballad Reflection from receptionist Amy Lou Smith, and This Is Me from The Greatest Showman from South Wales’ Travis George.
Grab your best pants, it's time for everyone's favourite superhero... Tonikaku: https://t.co/G8RbWD2LAf#BritainsGotTalent #BGTFinal #BGT2023 #BGT @tonikakuwearing pic.twitter.com/Ye3w4QAI0z
— BGT (@BGT) June 4, 2023
Meanwhile Cowell said comedian and wild card act Tonikaku was “one of the funniest people we have ever, ever had on this show” after his uncanny series of superhero “naked” poses.
The 40-year-old posed as Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, and even as judge Cowell pressing the red buzzer – and his “hero” Freddie Mercury during Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now.
Cowell was also “speechless” after amputee Musa Motha performed his contemporary dance routine to Find Me by Sigma, with the message to show people that “nothing is impossible”.
The final came after a week of five live semi-finals, with five acts put through after receiving the most audience votes and another five voted through by the judges.
