Furious BGT: The Champions fans vented their anger at David Walliams for costing magician Richard Jones a place in the final after failing to give him his golden buzzer.
Viewers were left outraged at the judge’s decision not to put the soldier, who won Britain’s Got Talent three years ago, straight through to the end-of-series showdown.
Richard, 28, opened Saturday night’s show with an emotional performance dedicated to war hero Fergus Anckorn, who died last year aged 99, which left the audience in tears.
But despite calls from the raucous crowd at Wembley Arena for him to press the golden buzzer, David insisted that the reaction was so incredible that he would not need it.
He had told Richard: “I’ve never seen a reaction like this in the room for anybody, so I don’t think you need my golden buzzer.”
Those words came back to haunt the panellist as the British Army serviceman narrowly missed out on the final when the audience voted him into second place, behind fellow magician Darcey Oake.
The decision meant the Canadian death-defying illusionist joined salsa dancers Paddy, 85, and 45-year-old Nico in the series climax after it was their routine that earned David’s golden buzzer.
Darcey’s sensational act saw him apparently trapped in a box which suddenly exploded, only for him to appear safe and well on the other side of the arena seconds later.
But viewers were left distraught that David had left Richard’s fate in the hands of the arena’s “superfans” and voiced their anger on social media.
One tweeted: “Well done @davidwalliams you sure did well with your #goldenbuzzer preventing @richjonesmagic from getting through!!! Angry to say the least!!!”
Another wrote: “Well @davidwalliams you called it wrong. Richard needed a golden buzzer!”
A third posted: “Oooooh, bet @davidwalliams is kicking himself for not putting that brave solider through tonight with the #goldenbuzzer.”
Another said: “Darcey and Richard should have gone through. But that’s what you get when you give an idiot a golden buzzer! And I say idiot in the nicest way possible.”
Well done @davidwalliams you sure did well with your #goldenbuzzer preventing @richjonesmagic from getting through!!! Angry to say the least!!! #BGTChampions
— Kelly-Louise (@kelilouxx21) September 14, 2019
Well @davidwalliams you called it wrong. Richard needed a golden buzzer! #BGTChampions
— Gillian McC 🏴🇱🇻 (@gillianmcc51) September 14, 2019
Oooooh, bet @davidwalliams is kicking himself for not putting that brave solider through tonight with the #goldenbuzzer #bgtchampions
— Dr Daniel Morse (@danieljmorse) September 14, 2019
Golden buzzer to the wrong ones now the best act didn’t get through. Seriously #bgtchampions
— Louise E Moorcroft (@Bobbyjoe73) September 14, 2019
These audiences have got it wrong every single week so far! Richard Jones should have gone through! 🙄 gutted #BGTChampions
— Kelly Louise (@_KellyyyH) September 14, 2019
Oh no @richjonesmagic I wanted you to get through, I always love seeing your performances! #BGTTheChampions #bgtchampions
— Emily (@5secsofemilyjSK) September 14, 2019
Darcey and Richard should have gone through. But that’s what you get when you give an idiot a golden buzzer! And I say idiot in the nicest way possible. #BGTChampions
— Telly Lad (@TellyLad) September 14, 2019
@davidwalliams @SimonCowell @richjonesmagic @AmandaHolden @AleshaOfficial #BGTChampions Richard didn’t need your buzzer David? What an absolute loss! Disappointed in how ‘bgtchampions’ works. Wth are these superfans? Young dj was nowhere near in Richard’s league! #bgtchampionsfix
— Julie (@spooliejoolie) September 14, 2019
* BGT: The Champions is on ITV next Saturday night.
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