It’s the oldest trick in the escapologist’s book — tell the audience you’re risking life and limb, give yourself a time limit and then raise the tension to boiling point by missing the deadline.
So was the case with Matt Johnson who brought the curtain down on Britain’s Got Talent series opener.
Handcuffed (twice) and submerged in a water-filled box with a “needle in a haystack” key to find that would fit the lock to escape, he gave himself 90 seconds before, he said, we should start to worry.
“If I start floating and I pass out then you get me out,” Matt said, alarmingly.
Lo and behold, he emerged with a huge gulp of air and water streaming from his extraordinary beard after two minutes and 10 seconds.
Just in the nick of time 🕒
Matt had us at the edge of our seats 😮#BritainsGotTalent #BGT @BGT pic.twitter.com/HO26OfMmip— ITV (@ITV) April 14, 2018
It was a terrific feat from a great showman. But for many viewers, it was too much. The talent show, they said on Twitter, had gone too far.
Some were having “panic attacks”, suffering “chest pains” or simply couldn’t watch because the spectacle was too uncomfortable.
Read more: Britain’s Got Talent fans accuse ITV of editing Ant and Dec out of last night’s show
There were even claims that it wasn’t actually entertainment. Well, let me say, the escape may have been many things, but one thing it cannot be accused of is not being entertaining.
@BGT locking yourself in a water box that is not family entertainment and too dangerous for TV
— Lindsey (@therankster27) April 14, 2018
Uncomfortable viewing !
— Ann Hammell (@hammell_ann) April 14, 2018
#Matt Sorry I hated it I felt so sorry for his family seeing him go through that & the clock counting I was feeling sick
— Karen (@bramhallbridge) April 14, 2018
im literally gonna have a panic attack i hate this #BGT
— sof💧 (@bemybabysof) April 14, 2018
Matt the escapologist nearly had me passed out watching him#BGT #BritainsGotTalent
— Mahria Shah (@Mahria_Shah_) April 15, 2018
Wow I actually have chest pains watching this I was so anxious 😳 #BritainsGotTalent
— em 💧 (@itsemilyhill) April 14, 2018
Simon Cowell added some spice at the vital moment by standing up and asking for help to free Matt when a watery grave looked imminent.
Truth is, though, as impressive as this was, it wasn’t even in the top 10 most dangerous acts seen on Britain’s Got Talent.
Alex Magala, the Moldovan sword swallower, who slid down a pole headfirst with a blade down his gullet on the show two years ago, before stopping inches short of a chainsaw in the grand final, was surely the riskiest act we’ve seen.
There have been knife-throwers, acrobats and trampolinists all one false move from a serious rethink of their careers.
Simon Cowell himself was literally in the firing line when he “volunteered” to be the glamorous assistant during a blindfolded crossbow stunt.
Last night’s escapologist was undeniably brave and, yes, there were risks, but most of the element of danger wasn’t on a level to quite match those others before him.
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And for sheer guts and courage, there is one act to beat them all.
Eight-year-old Ned Woodman, who strode out before the judges in 2017 and asked: “Why were people so excited by that talking dog on Britain’s Got Talent? Amanda Holden’s been on it for years.”
Top that if you can, Matt Johnson.
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