Yahoo News Britain's Got Talent 2023: Finale sees ratings slump
Only 5.3 million people tuned in for the big event
Britain's Got Talent has slumped to record low viewing figures for its finale.
Once a ratings juggernaut for ITV, the reality show, which has been on the air for 16 years, has seen dwindling viewing figures in recent years.
Sunday's finale was viewed by only 5.3 million people, a historic low and significantly less than last year's 6 million viewers.
The figure does not include those that will have watched on catch-up or online.
Britain's Got Talent saw it hit a pinnacle in popularity over a decade ago in 2009 when over 18 million people tuned in to watch dance troupe Diversity triumph over classical singer Susan Boyle.
This year's competition was won by Viggo Venn, a comedian from Norway who has been compared to Mr Bean.
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In second place finished the favourite Musa Motha, a dancer who had his one leg amputated when he was aged just 11.
The finale also featured a surprise appearance by Boyle who sang I Dreamed a Dream with the current West End cast of Les Miserables.
Boyle also revealed in an interview after the performance that she had suffered a stroke last year: "It's extra special for me. Last April I suffered a minor stroke and I fought like crazy to get back on stage and I have done it."
This year's Britain's Got Talent also saw its judging lineup change for the first time since 2012 with Bruno Tonioli replacing David Walliams after the latter became embroiled in controversy after he allegedly made disparaging and sexually charged remarks about contestants.
Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden have both been judges on the show since the first season while Alesha Dixon joined in 2012 following the departures of Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff.
Watch below: Alesha Dixon: 'I would love a Kids Got Talent because the kids rule, man'
