Amanda Holden

Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left divided by the drone performance featuring King Charles’ voice that closed the first episode of the ITV series

Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left split over one particular act that brought the curtain down on the opening episode of the ITV programme.

This year, hundreds of hopefuls will be greeted by award-winning presenters Ant and Dec before showcasing their abilities to judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and newcomer KSI.

Performers from every corner of the UK and across the globe will be taking to the stage, hoping not only to impress the judging panel but also the voting public, in a bid to scoop the life-changing prize of £250,000 and a coveted spot at the legendary Royal Variety Performance.

Fans were quick to voice their opinions after Somerset act Celestial closed the show with a spectacular mega-drone display. As the judges and audience filed outside, Celestial put on a breathtaking show combining drones and lights.

Towards the finale of the performance, King Charles‘ voice was heard in a poignant tribute, leaving some viewers feeling it “couldn’t have come at a worse time”, reports Belfast Live.

The voice said: “Wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love.

“Our nation and the wider family of realms, of whose talents, traditions and achievements, I am so inexpressibly proud. Have prospered and flourished, which makes us great as a nation.”

Amanda Holden remarked, “I am going to start crying.”

Responding to the act, one viewer wrote: “An act with the King’s voiceover could not have come at a worse time!”

“This is kinda sick #BGT,” wrote one viewer, whilst another chimed in with, “Not good timing but wow this is cool.”

One sharp-eyed fan noted, “Celestial- very cool very different I love it but I can’t see the King going outside to watch it that’s the only thing #BGT.”

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

Another raised a valid point, asking: “How is a drone act going to work on the stage at The Royal Variety Show?”

Heaping praise on the heartfelt performance, one devoted viewer declared, “Celestial, best act of the Night #BGT.”

“Well, wasn’t that brilliant? Brought a wee tear to my eye #BGT,” gushed yet another fan.

Britain’s Got Talent is available to watch on ITVX.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.** Click here to activate**** or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.**

AMANDA Holden ditched her bra and a showed off her slim waist in yet another stunning work outfit.

The Heart Radio star, 54, looked chic as ever in a pale blue long sleeve top with a dark red rim and teamed with a brown suede skirt.

Amanda mentioned that the colours were also nod to football team Aston Villa.

The BGT judge was seen strutting through the corridors as she gave fans a rundown on her outfit, which was from designer Karen Millen.

Amanda then posed for a toilet selfie which showcased her braless look.

The TV star often showcases her stylish looks on social media.

READ MORE ON AMANDA HOLDEN

ALAN’S NEW KILLING

Alan & Amanda’s Corfu home refurb set to make huge sum as it hits market

raw reveal

Amanda Holden emotionally opens up about losing her stillborn son Theo

But just last week, she revealed she once prepared a Sunday roast in front of her family — while naked.

Amanda said she stripped off while cooking the meal because it was a hot day.

And she added that her two daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie Rose, 13, were used to seeing her without clothes.

She told the Table Manners podcast: “You know on the cusp between winter and summer where you have to give up roast dinners and turn it into a barbecue?

“My whole family moan about Sunday roast, but I make them have it, and then this one particular Sunday it was boiling hot so I did just strip off and cook everything naked.”

She said husband Chris Hughes, 51, “enjoyed it”.

But she added: “I didn’t eat naked.

“I always don’t mind being naked.”

Amanda recently admitted her boobs have grown – and shared the very unusual reason why.

While filming with close pal Alan Carr for their BBC series Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job, Amanda‘s chest became the topic of conversation.

Alan pointed out: “Your breasts have got bigger since the last one.”

Amanda, wearing a low-cut summer dress, replied: “They have. It’s because of the Saganaki cheese.”

Funnyman Alan quickly quipped, “Have you just been rubbing it straight in?,” prompting Amanda to burst out laughing.

They’ve spent the last four summers in searing heat but next year they won’t be needing to pack a bikini or trunks

Amanda Holden and Alan Carr will return with a fifth series of their hit BBC1 property renovation show next year – but this time it will have a very different feel.

Because while the shows have so far been set under the hot Mediterranean sun in Italy, Spain and Greece – the next one is going to be a lot chillier. For the first time, the pair will be taking their lump hammers and hard hats and heading to Scandinavia.

Alan told the Mirror: “The producers are looking at Sweden or Norway for the next one. I think maybe it will be an eco-house up there. It will probably be an igloo or something, knowing them.” He said that moving the popular programme to a different landscape within a Nordic country was a very good idea. “I think there’s only so many times you can sort of look at a tile in the heat and go, ‘You need this…’” he laughed.

READ MORE: Dalziel and Pascoe getting a reboot on ITV after nearly two decades off airREAD MORE: Alan Carr felt ‘underestimated’ in The Traitors as new series dubbed ‘Bake Off with brains’

“And actually, I’m never going to be like Handy Andy, but I do know how to use a drill now – so it just feels like I do need another challenge. It will be something very different. We’re excited. And it will be so nice to not be working in the searing heat.”

The series kicked off with The Italian Job, which filmed in the summer of 2022 in 40 degree temperatures. It was similarly sweaty in Tuscany the following year, and again in Andalusia for The Spanish Job in 2024. And there was no respite from the heat of high summer during filming on The Greek Job, currently entertaining 4million viewers every week, which was filmed in Corfu last summer.

But the temperature in the north of Norway during July can be just 10 degrees, and while further south it tends to be around 20 degrees – the same as the average Swedish temperature – the experience is guaranteed to be far fresher for them next time around.

In the show, which always airs on BBC1 from January, the pals don boiler suits and grab power tools to renovate and decorate a dilapidated property which is then sold off, with all profits going to the BBC charity Children in Need.

The new project is likely to focus on using natural and sustainable materials to create a well-insulated and energy efficient home which respects the local landscape. It may involve solar panels or a green moss roof, plus plenty of timber.

The Italian properties featured on the series each cost just 1Euro to buy, then sold for £125k and £185k respectively. The Spanish house also made a tidy profit, having been bought for £55k and sold for over £200k. “That’s good, because the money goes to charity as well, so it’s really positive,” Alan said. One reason that the filming location needs to stay within Europe – rather than moving further afield – is so that Amanda, 54, can travel back and forth to present her Heart Radio breakfast show.

Alan and Amanda were both delighted when the production team chose Corfu for the current run, because it is a regular holiday destination for Amanda and her family, and Alan, 49, has even joined them there.

But when they arrived on the idyllic Ionian island ahead of filming, they were horrified by what they found. “It’s a dump,” Alan lamented about the house, while Amanda agreed it was “definitely the worst” they had encountered. Nevertheless, they soon set about turning it into a dream family escape, with their efforts on display in the final two episodes from Friday.

The pair believe that the secret of their success is that “we muck in and we encourage each other”. Alan has told how, after four years, he’s even started to have fun while knocking down walls. “I have got much better,” he said of his skills earlier this month. “I was thinking, the latter end of The Greek Job, I was actually enjoying it, and I’ve never, ever enjoyed DIY.”

They said that making the series had deepened their friendship and they now texted each other on a daily basis. “We are the same,” Amanda explained. “We laugh at the same stuff. The worst time was when he was filming The Traitors and I didn’t hear from him for three weeks. I knew he must have done quite well because he was gone for so long.” After seeing Alan’s triumph on The Celebrity Traitors, Amanda is now in talks to take part in the next series later this year.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.