Simon Cowell, 65, offers to take drastic action to prove ‘spontaneous’ ITV BGT audition wasn’t fixed as fans fume ‘set up!’
Simon Cowell has offered to take a lie detector test to dismiss allegations that Britain’s Got Talent is fixed following an unexpected incident where an audience member was allowed to audition.
The 65-year-old music mogul made the bold suggestion after viewers questioned whether Max Fox’s surprise audition during the final round of auditions in Blackpool was pre-arranged.
The suspicious audition happened in the latest episode over the weekend, where Fox not only performed on stage but went on to win the final Golden Buzzer of the series.
During the final week of auditions on Saturday night, Fox stood up from the audience and called out to the head judge.
“Simon, Simon, 19 years I’ve tried to get in front of you. Can you give me an opportunity?” he shouted.
Initially sceptical, Cowell questioned whether it was a joke, asking: “Is this a wind up?”
Despite his hesitation, Simon eventually consented to let the local singer have his shot.
Fox described the chance to perform for Cowell as his ultimate “dream”.
Following the initial exchange, Fox took to the Blackpool stage and delivered a striking rendition of Frank Sinatra’s classic, My Way.
His performance wowed the judges and received a standing ovation from both the audience and all four judges.
Amanda Holden was so impressed that she hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Fox straight through to the semi-finals.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and had to press the golden buzzer,” Holden later remarked.
The moment marked the last Golden Buzzer of the season.
Following the audition, Cowell firmly refuted suggestions that the incident had been staged.
He stated: “I think I should be wired to a lie detector machine in the future to prove I’m speaking the truth because when something like this happens people instantly shout fix,” The Mirror reports.
The music mogul added: “In this case do you really think I could be bothered to plant someone in the audience?”
Fellow judge Amanda Holden corroborated Cowell’s account, insisting: “I know that’s what people will say, but I promise it wasn’t.”
“It was like a moment from a movie. This guy was in the audience and kept putting his hand up, asking Simon to let him sing,” she explained.
Holden added: “We knew nothing about him, he just got in the audience that day and talked his way on stage.”
“I have so much respect for him taking his shot when he got it. He’s got balls, that’s for sure.”
This remarkable incident marks the first time an audience member has successfully manoeuvred their way onto the stage for an audition during ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Before Fox’s audition, Cowell asked him if he swore it wasn’t a set-up, to which Fox replied: “I promise you, this is my dream.”
Fans of the show should note that the live shows will commence on Saturday 26 April.
The semi-finals will kick off the live portion of the competition, where Fox will now have his chance to perform again.