Britain’s Got Talent fans branded an audition ‘staged’ on Saturday night when Simon Cowell unconvincingly stopped a contestant mid-note to ask if they had another song.

Charity fundraiser Ace Clurk was singing Harry Styles‘ As It Was but head judge, Simon, 64, was left unimpressed.

He said to Ace, 29: ‘Can I suggest something? I don’t think the key was right and I think you were nervous. But I think you’re interesting. Did you bring a second song?’

Ace replied: ‘Yeah, I do, I do’ revealing his second song choice to be Lovely by Billie Eilish.

Simon said: ‘All right, let’s give that one a go,’ and the audience cheered.

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Britain’s Got Talent fans branded an audition ‘staged’ on Saturday night, as Simon Cowell, 64, unconvincingly stopped a contestant mid-note to ask if they had another song

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Charity fundraiser Ace Clurk, 29 (pictured) was singing Harry Styles’ As It Was but head judge, Simon, 64, was left unimpressed

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He said to Ace: ‘Can I suggest something? I don’t think the key was right and I think you were nervous. But I think you’re interesting. Did you bring a second song?’

Amanda praised Ace’s second performance, saying his ‘vocal range was insane’, but Simon still wasn’t sure about the act.

He said: ‘I think it’s one of those auditions where not everyone’s expected to like the same things.

‘There were times were I thought: “This is really good”, and there were other times where I thought: “Actually, this is getting a little bit boring, actually”.’

The crowd booed Simon but he continued, undeterred: ‘But, that’s what I’m saying, if we all bought the same record then you know, life would be a bit weird wouldn’t it?’

Before giving his vote, Simon dramatically paused then said: ‘I do think you’re very talented and you come over as a very sincere person who really wants this break.

‘I think you’re interesting and I think that’s a really, really good thing. So, you deserve a shot. It’s a yes, well done.’

Amanda, the last judge to vote, exclaimed to a ecstatic Ace: ‘You’ve got four yesses. You’re through!’

Though the audience were left thrilled, fans on X, formerly X, were not so happy with the theatrics of the audition.

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Ace replied: ‘Yeah, I do, I do’ revealing his second song choice to be Lovely by Billie Eilish. Simon said: ‘All right, let’s give that one a go,’ and the audience cheered

They wrote: ‘Oh FFS 2nd song here we f*****g go Utter fix #BGT #BritainsGotTalent’;

‘Sorry but Ace was average. And that whole thing about the second song is so tired #BGT #BritainsGotTalent’;

‘Agreed, the ‘Have you got a second song?’ ruse has often been played before and shows #BritainsGotTalent #BGT up as being more than a bit staged’;

‘Ace with his 2nd song so not staged #BGT’; ‘Louis [Walsh] already told us this request for another song is staged – so quit it with the fake nervousness everyone #BGT’.

BGT bosses have also revealed the show will have an amazing line-up of guest performers taking to the stage across the live semi-finals and grand finale from Monday.

On Monday, the West End cast of Disney’s award-winning musical The Lion King will roar onto stage at the Eventim Apollo to kick off the live semi-finals.

Then, prepare to let it go with Disney’s Frozen, the smash hit West End musical, as the cast, led by Samantha Barks and Laura Dawkes, will put on a showstopping performance on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, multi-platinum-selling, BRIT-nominated singer-songwriter Calum Scott will premiere a UK exclusive performance of his latest single Then There Was You from The Garfield Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

In a UK television exclusive, the cast of the first-ever UK and Ireland tour of the global sensation & JULIET, will perform Max Martin and Katy Perry’s iconic pop anthem Roar on Thursday night.

On Friday, Britain’s Got Talent’s very own Alesha Dixon will take to the stage for a very special performance.

‘Where is Simon?’ BGT viewers left in shock after magician act

Fans were quick to accuse the audition of being ‘staged’

Since bursting onto the music scene in the early 2000s with ground-breaking girl group Mis-Teeq, Alesha has released a string of hits such as Breathe Slow and The Boy Does Nothing.

Celebrating 25 years in London, the West End cast of feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! will be closing this year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent in style on Sunday at the grand finale.

The West End cast is led by Mazz Murray, Kate Graham, Nicola Dawn-Brook and MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream winners, Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley.

In each live semi-final, the most popular act, as voted for by the public, will head straight to the final, with the second act chosen by the judges from the second and third most popular public vote.

Each act will give the performance of their lives in a bid to win the £250,000 prize money and a slot in the Royal Variety Show.