Britain's Got Talent viewers all say the same thing as contestants hit back at Simon Cowell

Britain's Got Talent 2025 returned with the third live semi-final on Saturday night on ITV1

Simon Cowell during the third live semi-final of Britain's Got Talent 2025.(Image: ITV/Screenshot) 

The third live semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent 2025 got underway on Saturday night, with hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly introducing the next eight acts vying for a place in the final.

Dance duo Harry and Lewis kicked off Saturday's show with an all-new routine in the hopes of winning a spot at this year's Royal Variety Performance.After their energetic performance, the breathless pair joined Ant and Dec to hear feedback from the judging panel of Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell, and Amanda Holden, and it's safe to say they received a rather mixed reception.The judges were divided over the best friends, with some comments suggesting it wasn't as good this time around, and others applauding their improved routine.

Simon rather awkwardly said to the men: "Do you actually want to win... you don't say much."

Ant and Dec gave the pair a chance to reveal how they felt, with them confirming they did in fact want to be on the stage.

Hitting back at Simon, Harry said: "Of course we wanna win it, we'd have never been here if we didn't wanna win it," adding it was a "dream" for them to make the live semi-finals.

But Simon wasn't the only one with something negative to say, as Amanda Holden let fly with remarks that some viewers labelled 'rude'.

"Well, I'm not gonna be very popular," the 54-year-old began. "I am gonna say thank god for the production and everything else because I was quite disappointed with that."As boos filled the auditorium, Holden stood firm as she continued: "I can see that you've worked hard and the choreography was very intricate and you'd worked hard on it, but I don't think it was enough. I just don't think that that was a step up from your first audition, so I'm really sorry."While the dancing duo took Holden's criticism in their stride, some viewers at home weren't as understanding and took to social media to hit out at her and Cowell's remarks.

"Did Simon want them to make a speech about how much they'd like to win halfway through the performance?! What a bizarre comment to make. Amanda was just rude too. #BGT," X user @geordiegalg hit out.

"Is Amanda ok Harry and Lewis was amazing #BGT," posted @bramwell_ashley, before @molly_ynwa fumed: "Amanda was rude!! Also, when would they have had chance to talk? Half way through the dance? Feel sorry for the lads #BGT."

Viewers were left thrilled towards the end of the episode when former winner Sydnie Christmas was joined by former BGT star Loren Allred on stage, for a duet of Over The Rainbow.As the episode came to a close Ant and Dec announced it was Ping Pong Pang who had won the public vote, with them and Jasmine Rice heading into the final.