Axel Blake wins 'Britain's Got Talent' 2022

Comedian Axel Blake has won Britain's Got Talent 2022 after being chosen in his first audition as Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer act.

Blake fought off competition from the runner up, child ventriloquist Jamie Leahey with his chicken puppet Chuck, and third place act, singing teacher Tom Ball, to walk away from the ITV series with £250,000 and a guaranteed spot on stage at this year's Royal Variety Performance.

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He said: "I can't believe it, words can't even explain," as his son joined him on stage to congratulate him.

One fan tweeted: "I’d buy tickets to Axel Blake’s show IN A HEART BEAT He’s brilliant."

Someone else added: "What a star Axel Blake is going to be totally deserved to win that."

Another viewer wrote: "Well the right person won, charismatic, cool & hilarious… Congratulations Axel! I have to say though, what a lovely lad wee Jamie is! He has kept his cool all the way through, funny, talented & gracious in defeat. We haven’t seen the last of him!"

However, other viewers continued complaints that the experienced comedian already has his own stand-up special on Amazon streaming service Prime Video.

The comedian has been open about spending years trying to break into the comedy circuit, but one viewer tweeted: "How is it that Axel Blake wins, yet he already has a show on Amazon Prime As a standup comedian."

Someone else wrote: "Axel Blake, while very funny, has already done a sold out show at the O2 and an Amazon prime special!? I though BGT was about finding new talent."

The show's judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams told contestants it was one of the strongest finals they had ever seen, adding that they found it impossible to call who would win.

After opera-singing busker Maxwell Thorpe, who had been the bookies' favourite to win, performed Cowell told him: "It's just your luck, any other year you would have walked it, but I really believe there are five or six people along with you who could win it.

"I really believe this is my favourite final I've ever judged on BGT, I've absolutely loved it."

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This year's wildcard act was Amber and The Dancing Collies, although she chose to drop one of her dogs for her grand final performance after feedback from the judges that they preferred her original canine co-star Nymeria to semi-finals addition Ruby.

Musical duo Flintz and T4ylor had a rough night when the nerves of the occasion got the better of them, with rapper Flintz forgetting his words and the judges comforting him afterwards.

In one controversial comment, head judge Cowell appeared to imply that The Queen, who was celebrating her Platinum Jubilee this weekend, might not be around for the Royal Variety Performance which typically takes place in November.

Talking about the prize to perform for the royal family, he said: "Please God it is The Queen..."

One viewer tweeted: "the awkward silence after simon basically implied the queen is on her way out … yeah that went down like a lead balloon"

Someone else added: "Cowell just implied the Queen might be dead before the Royal Variety Show!"

This has been the 15th season of Britain's Got Talent after 2021's contest was cancelled due to COVID restrictions, and is the 10th year of the current judging line-up.

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