Yahoo News Where are Britain’s Got Talent winners now?
The ITV talent show is back for a new series, but who has previously won the show?
Britain's Got Talent fans are thrilled that the ITV talent show is back, with Ant and Dec returning for another year of awkward auditions and incredible hidden talents.
Acts of all talents are competing for a £250,000 cash prize and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of members of the Royal Family.
Ahead of the new series launching on 20 April, we take a look at all the previous Britain’s Got Talent winners and what they are up to now.
2007: Paul Potts
In the first instalment of the series in 2007 Paul Potts, a manager at Carphone Warehouse turned opera singer, won the competition. Since winning the show, he has toured the world performing in the US, Toronto, Korea and most recently appeared dressed as a koala on the Masked Singer Germany.
There was even a film made about his life, One Chance, where James Corden played him.
2008: George Sampson
In 2008, Warrington-born street dancing extraordinaire George Sampson was crowned winner of BGT aged just 14.
Following his win, Sampson toured the country performing in West End hip-hop musical, Into the Hoods and released a single with the proceeds going to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He has also forged a successful acting career appearing most notably as Kyle Stack in BBC’s Waterloo Road.
2009: Diversity
Another dancing act that claimed victory was Diversity a street dance troupe based in London. Since winning the competition they have performed a tribute act for the late pop icon Michael Jackson, as well as performing for the then PM Gordon Brown.
Members of the group such as Ashley Banjo and Peri Kiely have had successful solo careers, with Banjo appearing as a judge on Dancing on Ice and Kiely taking part in Celebrity Great British Bake Off and Splash!. The group is still touring today.
2010: Spellbound
In 2010, Spellbound, a gymnastic troupe, triumphed in the fourth season of the show.
Since winning the show, the group performed twice at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
They have also performed all around the UK and the world including places such as Doha, Portugal and Spain. Many of their members have now left to be coaches or to pursue solo careers.
2011: Jai McDowall
Scottish singer-songwriter Jai McDowall won the competition in 2011, narrowly beating teenager Ronan Park with a margin of 2.4% (approximately 86,000 votes).
Since the win, McDowell has signed a one-album contract with Sony in March 2012, performed at a march and rally for Scottish independence in 2013 and supported fellow Scottish and BGT runner-up Susan Boyle at her live shows.
2012: Ashleigh and Pudsey
In 2012, 16-year-old Ashleigh and five-year-old Pudsey were the first-ever dog trick act to win the contest.
Since the show, the pair have had their own film, Pudsey the Dog: The Movie which was produced by creator of the show and judge Simon Cowell.
The pair also appeared in many theatrical performances including an Easter pantomime in 2015 of The Wizard of Oz in which they played the roles of Dorothy and Toto.
Sadly, Pudsey died in 2017 aged 11.
2013: Attraction
Hungarian shadow theatre group, Attraction won the seventh instalment of the show in 2013. This caused some controversy as they were the first non-British act to win the competition.
After winning, they have performed in places such as China, Vegas and have appeared on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
2014: Collabro
In 2014, UK-based musical theatre group, Collabro, were the winner of the eighth series of Britain’s Got Talent.
Their successes include releasing three albums, signing deals with Sony and Simon Cowell’s Syco Music and releasing Christmas singles. They lost band member Richard Hadfield after he decided to leave the group in 2016.
2015: Jules and Matisse
The ninth edition of the show saw another dog trick act become victorious with Jules O’Dwyer and Matisse in 2015. Their win caused controversy after it was revealed that O’Dwyer included a second dog, Chase (who looked similar to Matisse) in the final performance.
Despite Ofcom ruling that they had broken guidelines with viewers being misled after hundreds of complaints, Cowell did not strip O’Dwyer of the £250,000 prize money.
O’Dwyer now resides in Belgium having said that she struggled to adapt to her newfound fame.
2016: Lance Corporal Richard Jones
Series 10 saw the first-ever magician to win the competition in Lance Corporal Richard Jones.
Since winning the talent show, he has appeared as a contestant on ITV’s The Chase, performed as a bandsman in Trooping the Colour for the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations and in 2017, he toured the UK with his Power of Imagination tour.
2017: Tokio Myers
In 2017, Tokio Myers, a pianist, was the winner of the 11th edition of the show. Since his win, Myers has collaborated with musical megastar Ed Sheeran and released seven singles with his most recent single in July 2021.
He won Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Classic Brits in 2018.
2018: Lee Ridley
Disabled stand-up comedian Lee Ridley, also known as The Lost Voice Guy, won the competition in 2018. His act involved him speaking to the audience through a communication device.
Since winning the show, he has appeared on BBC Three’s Jerk, written his first book I’m Only In It For The Parking and has toured the country.
2019: Colin Thackery
At age 89, British Korean War veteran and singer Colin Thackery became the oldest-ever winner of the show in 2019.
Since his win he has toured the UK and released his debut album, Love Changes Everything.
2020: Jon Courtenay
Jon Courtenay, a comedic pianist, was the winner in 2020.
He later revealed that he had been battling skin cancer during his time on the show.
Courtenay went on a tour entitled What’s it all About? after his victory.
2022: Axel Blake
After a break in 2021, Britain's Got Talent returned in 2022 with a new round of hopefuls. However, it was stand-up comedian Axel Blake that emerged victorious as the show's winner.
Before winning the series, Blake worked as a property manager. Since winning, he's appeared in an episode of CBBC's Saturday Mash Up Live and appeared as part of America's Got Talent: All Stars.
2023: Viggo Venn
The 2023 edition of the show saw Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn be crowned the winner for his amusing performance, which saw him get into a large balloon before doing his signature move of dancing in a hi-vis vest - this time with Simon Cowell helping out.
Venn beat runner-ups Cillian O'Connor, a 14-year-old magician, and 13-year-old gymnastic dancer Liliana Clifton. He appeared at the 2023 Royal Variety Show after winning BGT.
Britain’s Got Talent starts on Saturday 20 April at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
