BGT: The Champions contestant Richard Jones charmed legions of fans with his dramatic performance on Saturday night.
But while many viewers were left fuming he didn’t make it to the next round, others did not take quite as strongly to the army veteran’s stirring performance.
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Richard, 28, won Britain’s Got Talent three years ago and opened Saturday’s show with an emotional tribute to war hero Fergus Anckorn, who died last year aged 99.
While many viewers claimed via Twitter that Richard’s performance brought them to tears, others argued that it was ‘too sappy’ – and even ‘mediocre’.
One viewer said: “Richard Jones and his feel sorry for me act, he’s crap.”
Another accused him of using a ‘sob story’ to win over viewers: “I love magic but I never bloody liked Richard Jones. Don’t care for his glorification of the army and his sob story acts. Yawwwwwwnnnnnn.”
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A third viewer slammed his performance as, “Richard Jones – hyperbolic drivel on #BGTChampions. Not my cuppa.”
And a fourth accused him of using the military theme to enhance his act.
They tweeted: “Richard Jones’s magic act was very basic and unimpressive in 2016, and was again this time.
“Just because he had a 97-year-old man standing next to him, and just because they are wearing a soldier’s uniform, doesn’t make the act itself any better.”
These negative sentiments were not entirely reflected during the episode – as Richard received a standing ovation.
David Walliams was in fact so impressed by Richard, that he refused to use his Golden Buzzer – believing the audience would most certainly vote him through to the next round.
But alas, David’s words came back to haunt him as the audience vote placed Richard in second place, behind Canadian illusionist Darcy Oake.
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