Britain’s Got Talent crowned a first-ever choir champion on Saturday night as The Hawkstone Farmers Choir stormed to victory in what judges Simon Cowell called the “closest final ever.”
The 32-member group, formed and funded by Jeremy Clarkson, battled against Anastasiia & Salsa, Celestial, Fabian Fox, Liwei Yang, Matty Juniosa, Rafferty Coope, Sadeck Berrabah & LMA, Sonny Green, and Ted Hill for the public vote. After lines closed, Simon admitted: “I haven’t got a bloody clue who’s going to win,” praising every act as “the best contestant of the night.”
The music mogul joined Amanda Holden, 55, Alesha Dixon, 47, and KSI, 32, on the judging panel, while fans at home ultimately picked the choir to take home the £250,000 prize and a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Performance. Clarkson, 65, could be seen cheering wildly in the audience as his creation claimed the crown.
The choir, now led by farmers Simon Gwilliam and Lizzy Dean, was originally formed for a Hawkstone beer advert, but has since grown into a group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for mental health in the farming community. Following their win, they performed an original track and told fans:
“We are the first-ever choir to win Britain’s Got Talent. This is for all the farmers out there—if you’re not ok, speak up. This is for the farmers!”
Despite their historic triumph, social media erupted with criticism. Some viewers accused ITV of giving Clarkson “free publicity” and branded the win a “fix,” tweeting:
-
“How’s all that free Clarkson promotion going @ITV?”
-
“I bet tomorrow will be the lowest viewed #BGT final ever.”
-
“I AM ABSOLUTELY SICKENED. THE VOTE IS RIGGED.”
Simon Cowell, meanwhile, praised the choir’s mission while joking about Clarkson’s presence:
“You’re not a professional choir, however I love what you stand for. It might be annoying to see Jeremy Clarkson’s smug face—that’s the only downside. He’s a friend of mine.”
The final also saw Liwei Yang leave the judges and viewers in awe with her death-defying fire juggling act, swinging flaming ropes and balancing a smouldering table on her feet. KSI called it “a BGT-winning performance,” while fans gushed: “The talent required… wow!”
The choir recently released their debut record, The Banned One, donating all proceeds to the mental health charity Shout. Released ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, the vinyl aims to support farmers struggling with wellbeing. Victoria Hornby, CEO of Shout, praised the group:
“The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir has given an incredible voice to the mental health challenges faced by so many in the agricultural community. These funds will save lives.”
Jeremy Clarkson, visibly moved by the choir’s journey, shared his pride on social media:
“I watched Britain’s Got Talent tonight for the first time because the Hawkstone choir were on. They were just fantastic… it made my heart sing. These guys work incredibly hard for very small rewards. I’m a very happy man tonight because the choir is fab. That’s it.”
