Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals gets a shake-up with new golden buzzer rule

The Golden Buzzer will now be introduced during its live semi-final rounds for one of the judges or the hosts to press and send acts to the final.

By contributor Lauren Del Fabbro, PA Entertainment Reporter
Published
Britain’s Got Talent 2025
Simon Cowell attending the Britain’s Got Talent launch at Sea Containers, London. (Ian West/PA)

Britain’s Got Talent will send performers straight to the grand finale during the live semi-final shows with a golden buzzer.

The ITV talent show will extend the concept during its five live semi-final rounds, so the judges and hosts can save acts from possible elimination.

The golden buzzer had been used during the pre-recorded auditions phase of the talent show, allowing anyone from the panel and the presenters to press it and send acts to the semi-finals.

Britain’s Got Talent 2025 auditions – Blackpool
Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli, arriving for Britain’s Got Talent auditions at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, in Lancashire. (Ian West/PA)

The rule change will now mean that the buzzer can be used during the semi-finals, however, one of the four judges or its hosts will be appointed controller of the buzzer, giving them one chance to save the act from elimination and send them to the final.