Ant and Dec presented the Britain's Got Talent 2026 final, where Hawkstone Farmers' Choir took the top prize, defeating other acts and prompting mixed reactions on social media.
The live final of Britain’s Got Talent concluded on 30 May with hosts Ant and Dec revealing the season’s winner after months of auditions and semi-finals. The programme’s judging panel — Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI — watched as ten finalists performed in a show that combined spectacle, emotion and a public vote that ultimately decided the result.
When the votes were tallied, the rural ensemble known as the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir was declared champion. The group, which was originally formed with the involvement of Jeremy Clarkson and had him watching from the audience during the final, took home the £250,000 prize and the opportunity to appear at the Royal Variety Performance.
Final line-up and standout moments
The final showcased a diverse mix of talent. Ten acts performed on Saturday, 30 May, including several notable finalists who entered via the golden buzzer route: Sonny Green (spoken poet), Matty Juniosa (singer), LMA (dance group) and Liqei Yang (fire juggler).
In addition, public vote victors featured the magicians Fabian Fox and Rafferty Coope, comedian Ted Hill, and dance sensation Anastasiia and Salsa.
Podium finishes and prize
At the announcement, the choir emerged as the season’s winner. Celestial were named runners-up, while the duo Anastasiia and Salsa finished third. The victorious choir dedicated their success to the farming community, saying they wanted to highlight the struggles many farmers face across the country. Their win also marked what they described as the first time a choir has taken the title in the show’s history.
Audience response and the online debate
Reactions on social media were mixed. Supporters celebrated the choir’s victory with messages such as “A choir finally won” and congratulatory posts praising the group for representing British rural life. Others felt different finalists deserved the prize, posting that acts like Matty Juniosa, the Liverpool dance entrants and Sonny Green had been unfairly overlooked.
Allegations of a staged outcome
Alongside praise and disappointment came accusations suggesting the result had been influenced. Some comments targeted the choir’s public association with Jeremy Clarkson, alleging his involvement swayed viewers and claiming promises of rewards for voters. Those claims were shared widely but remain unproven. The lively debate demonstrated how emotionally invested audiences are in the programme’s outcome.
Context within the show’s history
The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir joins a long list of previous winners spanning various genres, including household names such as Paul Potts, Diversity and the dog-and-owner duo Ashleigh and Pudsey. Last year’s champion was illusionist Harry Moulding, who impressed judges and viewers with close-up card magic in the studio and a pre-recorded skydiving sequence that blended live performance with cinematic flair.
Responses to past controversy
After his 2026 victory, the Blackpool-born Harry Moulding faced similar speculation about the integrity of the vote. He publicly addressed the allegations, telling reporters that while opinions about magic vary, the most frequent compliment a magician can receive is when people cannot explain how a trick was done. He argued that disbelief can sometimes be mistaken for evidence of a fix and thanked audiences for engaging with the art of magic.
As with previous series, the final has reignited conversations about public voting, the influence of celebrity endorsements and how variety programmes balance entertainment with competition. The show remains available to stream on ITVX, where viewers can revisit the performances and form their own judgments.
Looking ahead, the season’s result will likely be remembered for its unusual winners and the intensity of the reaction they provoked. Whether the discussion centers on the appeal of grassroots acts, the role of high-profile supporters, or the subjective nature of live entertainment, the 2026 final has provided another chapter in the long-running cultural conversation about televised talent contests.
