Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Teddy Magic has pulled out of his performance – missing his chance to wow the judges on Saturday’s first semi-final performance of the 2025 season. The long-running ITV talent show returned to screens over the weekend with the first batch of semi-finalists battling to land a place in the grand final.

Early in the night, Teddy was expected to take to the stage to show off his impressive magician skills. However, hosts Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin hinted that the eight-year-old star was battling nerves as they told viewers that he needed a little extra time to prepare himself ahead of performing on live prime time TV.

With the young performer out of the first semi final show, some viewers questioned how the remaining shows would play out over the weeks ahead. One wrote: “With Teddy Not performing tonight, that meant we had 7 acts performing. Does that mean one of the remaining semi-finals will have 9 acts performing, given in mind that Teddy Magic will have to be squeezed in somewhere? #BGT.”

The first semi-final show of the 2025 season was beset with technical problem – while viewers were further angered by changes to the format of the show. After Teddy’s audition was initially delayed, viewers were left fuming when dance troupe The Blackouts were delayed due to technical problems.

They did ultimately managed to perform – leaving the judges and live studio audience spellbound. Judge Amanda Holden was so blown away by the performance that she bopped her golden buzzer to catapult them straight through to the live final.

Ant and Dec left fans worried when they made the announcement
The inclusion of a golden buzzer during the live semi final show proved contentious, however, with many viewers left feeling that it will lead to the final being filled with contestants picked by the judges rather than the voting public. Each week, one judge will be granted the power to slap the golden buzzer – while the other contestants will need to rely on viewer votes to go to the final.

But many took to social media to complain not just about the unfair advantage this could give some fans – but also the fact that the audience had become insufferable as a result. One complained on X: “the golden buzzer in the semi finals already causing havoc cause the audience won’t shut up #bgt.” And another complained: “Will this audience shut up #BGT.”

Many viewers hit out over the decision to introduce a golden buzzer during the live semi final rounds. One wrote: “#BGT so basically the judges may as well ljust pick the finalists and forget about the semis … what a joke.”

Another typed: “A live show golden buzzer is completely unnecessary. What if she doesn’t press it at all? #BGT.” And another raged: “#BGT in other words it’s so the judges can fix it!”

Others took to social media to blast the format of multiple semi final shows stretched over more than a month. One complained, writing: “So every Saturday for the next 6 weeks, is the Semi Final episodes #BGT.”