Britain’s Got Talent winner Viggo Venn has defended his win on the ITV show, claiming it’s ‘not his fault’ he won.
Viggo, 43, may have bagged the £250,000 prize and a spot on the bill for the Royal Variety Performance, but it seemed the spectators weren’t too happy as they booed Viggo shortly after the winner was announced on Sunday.
Now appearing on Wednesday’s Lorraine episode – a day after pulling out of his scheduled appearance on the show – he admitted he was “kind of hoping” he wouldn’t win because it’s so “embarrassing.”
After making a very energetic entrance to the studios, he sat down to discuss his victory.
Jokingly, Lorraine remarked, “That’s the best entrée I’ve ever had!”
Speaking out: Britain’s Got Talent winner Viggo Venn has defended his win on the ITV show, claiming it’s ‘not his fault’ he won
‘Hoping’ not to win: Viggo, 43, may have won the £250,000 prize and a spot on the Royal Variety Performance bill – but it looks like spectators weren’t too happy
Viggo sat down to discuss his win and began: ‘It’s not my fault I won, it was the British public.
“I was actually hoping I hadn’t won because it’s so embarrassing. The British public has a ridiculous sense of humour.’
Just a day earlier, Viggo Venn had pulled out of his scheduled gig in Lorraine.
Viggo’s decision not to appear comes two days after he was booed at the BGT final.
Lorraine Kelly, 63, announced the news shortly before he was due to go on air, saying he’s not feeling well. It is not known what condition Viggo had.
On Monday, Amanda Holden wore his high-vis top to host her Heart FM radio show, saying she was hungover and had only slept two hours.
The latest comes after viewers of Britain’s Got Talent called for the ITV show to be canceled after the Norwegian comedian was crowned winner in Sunday’s final.
Dancer Lilliana Clifton, 13, and 14-year-old magician Cillian O’Connor came second and third respectively, but missed out on the title and £250,000 prize pool.
Candid: Now appearing on Wednesday’s Lorraine episode – a day after pulling out of his scheduled appearance on the show – he admitted he was ‘kinda hoping’ he wouldn’t win
In character: After making a very energetic entrance to the studios, he sat down to discuss his victory
Honest: Sitting to discuss his win, Viggo began: ‘It’s not my fault I won, it was the British public’
After dancing in a fluorescent jacket to Daft Punk’s One More Time for his final performance, the studio audience booed as hosts Ant and Dec announced the comedian as the winner.
Some viewers used the hashtag #CancelBGT when they took to Twitter to criticize the results of the public vote.
“I’m so glad I stopped watching BGT. The show has gone downhill with jokes like Viggo instead of talented people like the show is meant to be and the judges have no backbone to let the audience sway but now cancel it,” one furious viewer tweeted.
‘#BGT is well and good done! Cancel it now! I’m paid minimum wage to wear a hi-vis jacket, and now a guy from Norway has just been paid £250,000 for wearing it!! The world has gone mad!’ agreed another.
‘@BGT Cancel/axe the show forever; the boe’s in the crowd say it all – the WORST winner ever in the show’s history!!!!! How did this sideshow win????? He literally has no talent at all!!!’
“I haven’t seen #BGT this year because I think it’s kind of over now. But I thought I’d watch the finale. Was rooting for Lilianna Clifton, amazing talent! I can’t believe that stupid prankster bought time to cancel the whole show.”
Others insisted that while the result was surprising, Viggo didn’t deserve to be booed.
‘Very surprised. But Viggo was very funny. Very distasteful for anyone to berate Viggo. Not his fault he won, people voted for him, not anyone else. Made a sour end to it thanks to audience reaction. Well done Vigo!!! #BritainsGotTalent #BGT2023 #bgt,” one tweeted.
While another tweeted, “It sounded like a lot of boos out there when #ViggoVenn was announced as the winner of #BritainsGotTalent.
“I thought he was great, but a shocking omission from the last 3, and I think everyone thought the young lad would win. Bit of a deflated, down beat ending to the series #BGT2023 #BGT.”
Judge Alesha Dixon told Viggo during the finale that he “has captivated the nation, they love you.”
Bruno Tonioli added, “I think your physical comedy is world class, you’ve created one of the most memorable characters since Mr Bean.”
Winner! The latest comes after viewers of Britain’s Got Talent called for the ITV show to be canceled after the Norwegian comedian was crowned winner in Sunday’s final.
Shocking result: Anger could be heard from the studio audience when hosts Ant and Dec announced the comedian as the winner
Praise: Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli praised Viggo during the finals, telling him he has “captivated the nation”
Simon Cowell was full of praise for the prankster, telling him, “At least you didn’t make me look stupid tonight. I’ve never met an act like you in my life, I admit it, I really love you now.’
Before the show aired, Simon explained how he hoped the program would help contestants build better lives for themselves.
He said, ‘I think you have two things, you want to make a show that people will hopefully enjoy watching.’
“And second, you want to give whoever it is that chance, hopefully, for things to get better in their lives after they audition.”
“I think where things have changed a lot from where we first started, it’s always been about the end price.”