Watch the horrifying moment Alesha Dixon fired TWO razor-sharp arrows at terrified magician in BGT – but did anything actually go wrong or was it all just a stunt?
- Britain's Got Talent viewers shocked as stunt goes wrong during semi-final
- Magician Ben Blaque narrowly avoided injury in crossbow roulette stunt
- Alesha Dixon pulled lever which shot razor-sharp arrows in his direction
- But device malfunctioned and two blades were fired at helpless daredevil
- See BGT updates as Alesha Dixon left terrified as stunt goes wrong
Britain's Got Talent viewers were left shocked last night when a technical fault saw a magician's act go disastrously wrong with judge Alesha Dixon accidentally firing two razor-sharp arrows at him.
Magician Ben Blaque narrowly avoided physical injury live on stage during the show's semi-finals when his crossbow roulette stunt descended into chaos as the arrow-firing device malfunctioned.
Alesha had assumed the role of his glamorous assistant and was responsible for pulling a lever which shot razor-sharp arrows in his direction, while he was restrained, spread-eagles, to a board.
But, at the very start of the routine, the device malfunctioned, meaning two blades were fired at the helpless daredevil. He appeared shocked as the two arrows hurtled towards him but put on a brave face and was seemingly relieved as one hit the board behind him and the other fell to the floor.
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Risk taker! Ben Blaque narrowly avoided a public accident during his crossbow roulette performance on Britain's Got Talent's semi final, which saw judge Alesha Dixon assume the role of his glamorous assistant
Daredevil stunt: Alesha was responsible for pulling a lever which shot razor-sharp arrows in his direction, while he was restrained, spread-eagles, to a board - and it appeared not all of the dangerous act was planned
Dangerous: Ben Blaque braced himself as two arrows accidentally fired (circled) from the machine during the stunt. Both hurtled towards him, leading to huge gasps from the studio audience, but they narrowly missed him
Pensive: Ben Blaque put on a brave, but seemingly worried, face as one of the arrows stabbed the board behind him (top right). The other, discharged accidentally at the same time, fortunately fell to the floor below
The audience gasped as the stunt took a turn for the worse – with viewers watching in horror as they realised only one arrow was meant to be discharged at a time.
Fortunately, the malfunction seemed to work in Ben's favour as he gained a roaring applause and glittering comments from the judging panel.
Critiquing the act, Simon Cowell said: 'I think the fact that it went wrong made it better. I personally would not trust Alesha to pull the handle and fire an arrow at me.
'But in a strange way, by Alesha being an idiot and accidentally releasing two arrows, it made the act better.'
Ben later explained: 'The chord must have got tangled up and that would have caused two arrows to be sent off.'
However, viewers were quick to take to Twitter to question whether the malfunction was actually planned and part of the stunt.
One wrote: ‘Ben Blaque didn’t pull the last arrow. How do we know that it was actually set to shoot at him. Fake. #BGT2016’
Aussie Julie wrote: ‘That was a bit boring. How do we know one of them might’ve actually hit him? Went a bit too wrong though. #BGT’
Gary Jenkins added: ‘So how was that dangerous Ben Blaque?? Well done on fixed crossbow points and standing well clear #BGT2016’
And Kristoffer Doyle said: ‘Ben Blaque act was so fake it’s unreal. Was never any real chance of anything going wrong. Total fraud. #BGT2016’
Shocked! As at the very start of the routine the device malfunctioned when Alesha first activated it, meaning two blades were fired at the helpless daredevil
A lucky miss: Luckily the two arrows didn't miss their intended marks
Putting on a brave face? Looking worried as the audience gasped, Ben was forced to put on a brave face until the segment was over and his act was completed safely
'The chord must have got tangled up and that would have caused two arrows to be sent off': The talented magician revealed later on that it was mechanical failure, rather than Alesha's fault
Ben Blaque's failed stunt wasn't the only drama which took place on Sunday's episode of the annual talent series, as wannabe singer Kathleen Jenkins was sensationally axed from the show.
The Welsh hopeful failed to hit the right notes with the judges in the programme's first semi-final on, which saw her go head-to-head with duo mother/son Mel and Jamie.
Despite an impressive performance, the toilet cleaner was dropped from the show after failing to sufficiently impress both the four judges and the live TV audience at home.
Shaken but not dissuaded: Ben looked very sombre as he strode back into the centre of the stage following the nerve-wracking routine
I trust you... : Ben had Alesha come up on stage and play the part of his assistant, however, not everything went to plan for the daring performer
Critiquing the act, Simon said: 'I think the fact that it went wrong made it better. I personally would not trust Alesha to pull the handle and fire an arrow at me'
Risky: The hopeful was clearly relieved when the segment was over and he escaped unscathed
Viewers took to Twitter to share their opinion on the stunt, with mixed reviews over whether it was planned or a genuine accident
As a consequence of the result, 100 Voices of Gospel will now join Mel and Jamie in the ITV final as they bid to take part in the Royal Variety Performance.
Visibly upset by the decision, the brunette wannabe held back emotion and thanked viewers for their encouragement.
Fighting back tears, she told And and Dec: 'I'm so grateful for this opportunity - thanks very much'.
Gone: The Welsh hopeful was axed from the programme's semi-final on Sunday evening, which saw her go head-to-head with duo mother/son Mel and Jamie
Winners: As a consequence of the result, 100 Voices of Gospel will now join Mel and Jamie in the ITV final as they bid to take part in the Royal Variety Performance
Success: 100 Voices of Gospel triumphed in the semi-final - although attracted criticism for not being British
Popular: The choir's lead singer received plenty of praise from Simon Cowell, who called them 'the best'
Fortunately, the rest of the programme went relatively smoothly.
Richard Bayton was the first act who took to the stage. Unsurprisingly, he delivered a rather toe-curling rendition of songs in a single medley.
He opened the performance in a hooded cape before disrobing and revealing a skin-tight silver lame suit underneath.
Oh dear: Richard Bayton was the first act who took to the stage. Unsurprisingly, he delivered a rather toe-curling rendition of songs in a single medley
He opened the performance in a hooded cape before revealing a skin-tight silver lame suit underneath
Inappropriately, Amanda told him: 'Richard, you've got the whole package - especially in those unforgiving trousers'.
Although the creepy gag fell flat, it was mercifully overshadowed by Simon's more professional response.
'It was horrendous,' he said. 'It was the weirdest mixture of songs - how do you go from Born To Be Wild to Shout? You're a nice guy and you're a trier.But God help us if you win - which you won't.'
'But at least you had a night out in Wembley.'
Pointless? There was Spartan's Resurrection, who performed another choreographed dance piece
Dull: The group's ambitious routine was quite good, but smacked of a school production
The there was Spartan's Resurrection, who performed another choreographed dance piece.
'I still feel like there's more to see from you, but if you make it to the final you've got to come out and make it even more dangerous,' said Alesha.
Amanda agreed: 'I thought there was going to be a bigger ending than that. There were lots of stories, but the end was lacking.'
She tried: Then, Welsh hopeful Kathleen took to the stage for a classy rendition of One Day I'll Fly Away
TV-by-numbers: Boasting all the hallmark production of a Simon Cowell TV show, it threw everything except the kitchen sink at the performance
Praise: Simon Cowell was a fan of the singer's act and predicted she'd succeed - but it all ended in tears
Then, Welsh hopeful Kathleen took to the stage for a classy rendition of One Day I'll Fly Away.
Boasting all the hallmark production of a Simon Cowell TV show, it threw everything except the kitchen sink at the performance.
'I still see the shy person in you and that's part of the appeal. I think you were as good as the first audition, but I feel like Britain is going to get behind you tonight.'
Next up was boy power in the form of Total TXS, who wowed thew crowd with an energetic dance performance.
Next up was boy power in the form of Total TXS, who wowed thew crowd with an energetic dance performance
Nearly, but not quite: Despite their impressive moves, the Leicester-born group didn't make it through
Simon said: 'The start of the routine was good, but it wasn't imaginative enough. Every year you've got to raise the bar. I think you're talented, but not good enough to get you into the final.'
Then were Latin-themed dance group Ystard Fawr Dancers, who performed to a soundtrack by a Beyonce mash-up.
Unimpressed, Simon said: 'The music was better, but can I be honest? I thought it was lazy. It didn't feel like semi-final material that would wow me. I was waiting for it to get going and impress me.
Latin-themed dance group Ystard Fawr Dancers, who performed to a soundtrack by a Beyonce mash-up
Flop: Voice-over artist Darren Altman provided some comedy in the form of celebrity impressions - including fellow co-hosts Ant and Dec
Mother-and-son duo Mel and Jamie garnered plenty of praise, with all four judges offering plaudits for the pair.
Then voice-over artist Darren Altman provided some comedy in the form of celebrity impressions - including fellow co-hosts Ant and Dec.
But, while that certainly raised some laughs, it didn't impress Simon.
'I like you and I loved your audition, but the performance you did tonight was terrible. I didn't know who half the people were,' he said.
The judges: David Walliams, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell on Sunday's BGT
Howeverm plenty of viewers also aired their annoyance at the poor calibre of performers, this year.
'A 'weird night'. I love when even Simon knows how bad things have been and doesn't hold back on telling everyone' said one.
Another added: 'There are so many breaks in BGT that Ant and Dec must be on part-time contracts?'.
A third quoted Cowell when he said: 'There's something about your naivety that makes this work'. Adding: 'He's talking to you there, viewers'.
Hard to impress: Simon is notoriously picky, but viewers also vented their frustrations at the calibre of acts
Off they go... Ant and Dec were seen heading out looking ready for bed - with the former smoking a cigarette and clutching a Louis Vuitton washbag and the latter holding an adorable sausage dog
Farewell: Simon bid goodnight to a reveller as he planted a kiss on a woman's cheek
Weighed down: Simon's hands were full as he left the building as he held on to a bottle of beer and a pack of cigarettes as well as his iPhone
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