Favorites Emerge After Six Weeks of Britain’s Got Talent

Only one more week of auditions remains before the live semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent and the performers that have already been seen this season are impressive. There are any number of contestants that have already left a lasting impression on the judges and fans and could claim victory as the show’s eighth season comes to a close.

Britain's Got Talent

While all of the semi-finalists haven’t been announced yet, this season’s inclusion of the “Golden Buzzer” means that four semi-finalists ARE already known, with Ant and Dec’s Buzzer recipient yet to be revealed. Of the four already through, two acts are considered favorites when live shows begin May 26.

The first act in the show’s history to receive the Golden Buzzer treatment was the salsa dancing duo of Paddy and Nico, who were put through by Amanda Holden on the first episode of the season. The sight of the nearly 80-year-old Paddy swinging around like a woman a quarter her age during a gymnastic dance routine astounded fans and judges alike, setting the bar high for the rest of the season. Currently being given 6/1 odds or better to win by online bookmakers such as Coral, this act is considered one of the three biggest favorites after six weeks.

Paddy and Nico
Paddy and Nico

The overall favorite, and the act that has become something of an international viral hit since their performance is the young duo known as Bars and Melody. Teenage friends Charlie, 15, and Leondre 13, wowed all involved with their rendition of the Faith Evans and Twista song “Hope,” with their version including an original rap based on a personal history of being bullied. Legendary grump Simon Cowell was so impressed that he used his Golden Buzzer on the duo, and every single odds maker found on Gambling.com that is offering Britain’s Got Talent wagering has the pair as the favorite, ranging between 7/4 and 11/4 odds.

Other Golden Buzzer recipients REAformed (put through by Alesha Dixon) and Christian Spridon (David Walliams) have much longer chances, with REAformed sitting around 40/1 and Spridon looking at odds between 100/1 and 200/1. Walliams’s choice is a highlight (or lowlight, depending on your point of view) of the season, as his Golden Buzzer press seemed to be done solely to get revenge on Cowell for trying to end Spridon’s questionable performance.

REAformed
REAformed

So far the only non-Buzzer act that appears to have a real chance at unseating Bars and Melody is the five-man operatic boy band Collabro. The group was on the season’s first episode alongside Paddy and Nico and their performance of “Stars” from Les Mis made them the heavy favorites before Bars and Melody’s episode aired. While the younger act may have jumped them, they still have the second best odds at a near universal 4/1.

The final week of auditions airs on Sunday, and is said to include hosts Ant and Dec using their Golden Buzzer to send another act straight to the semis, so there is still a very real possibility that a new favorite could emerge from that show. Also on Sunday will be the revelation of the full semi-finalist field, and Monday the 26th sees the start of the live shows to crown a champion. With such a strong field up top, the competition is sure to be captivating right through to the finale.

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Mark Meets
Mark Meets
MarkMeets Media is British-based online news magazine covering showbiz, music, tv and movies

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