It wouldn’t be Britain’s Got Talent without an on-air row, and that was evident when Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden were involved in a lively dispute on Wednesday night.
Head judge Cowell was playfully punched by former panellist Holden as they battled for bragging rights over festively named singer Sydnie Christmas.
Both claimed her as their Gold Buzzer act during Wednesday’s live semi-final at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, prompting an outraged response from Holden – who originally gave Christmas free entry to the final stages of the competition in April.
As Cowell attempted to claim the 28-year-old as his own, his fellow judge snapped back: “No, you wish she was yours.”
Despite co-host Ant McPartlin confirming that she was indeed Holden’s chosen Golden Buzzer act, the main judge stuck to his guns while talking about him, prompting her to give him a playful slap on the shoulder.
Simon Cowell was playfully punched by former Britain’s Got Talent panellist Amanda Holden as they battled for bragging rights over festively named singer Sydnie Christmas
Kent-based gym worker Christmas advanced to Sunday’s final after stunning the judges with her version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way
Holden responded to Cowell after he tried to claim the Golden Buzzer act as his own during Wednesday’s semi-final
“She’s absolutely phenomenal,” Holden said, waving goodbye. ‘I don’t know what she’s singing, I want to be surprised. But I know she’s going to destroy it.”
Kent-based gym worker Christmas advanced to Sunday’s final after stunning the judges with her version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way.
She was joined by impressionist Mike Woodhams, and both are now one performance away from winning a life-changing £250,000 cash prize and a place on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.
Holden, who was moved to tears, told her, “I have to sit down, I thought I might faint. Honestly, Sydnie, when we saw your audition, so many people came up to me to stop me.
“And tonight you did even better, I just can’t believe your abilities, your fire and your strength.”
An equally impressed Bruno Tonioli added: ‘I can’t believe it. The way she builds up to the high note and hits it with such power and clarity. It was breathtaking, stunning.”
Alesha Dixon agreed, telling the singer: “My heart was racing all the time. That’s the job of a singer, you’re a superstar in the making.’
While Cowell told her: ‘It just wasn’t a 10, it was an 11 in my opinion. Without people like you I wouldn’t be making this show.
An impressed Simon Cowell then gave the semi-final performance an ’11 out of 10′
“It was just, it wasn’t a 10, it was an 11 in my opinion. Without people like you I wouldn’t bother making this show,” he told her
“And you have to wonder who were those idiots that you auditioned for that didn’t give you the opportunity before, they have to be done. The only people you should trust is the public, the public is always right.’
Christmas received a standing ovation after performing her own version of Tomorrow from the hit musical Annie – a song Cowell admitted he hated until her performance won him over – during her audition on April 20.
The performance left its mark on Holden, who immediately chose her as the Golden Buzzer act.
“What struck me about you is how naturally funny, how warm and how brilliant your presence was the moment you walked on stage,” she told her.
“And tonight you did even better, I just can’t believe your abilities, your fire and your strength.”
