In a jaw-dropping moment that sent shockwaves through the Britain’s Got Talent arena, Simon Cowell hit his first live Golden Buzzer of the season — and the reaction was nothing short of electric. During Semifinals Part 2 of BGT 2025, the music mogul and longtime judge was visibly moved by 11-year-old guitar prodigy Olly Pearson, whose performance was equal parts passion, power, and pure talent.
Hailing from Manchester, Olly took the stage with nothing more than a guitar and unshakable confidence. What followed was a fiery rock medley infused with energy well beyond his years. From the first chord, the crowd was on their feet. Amanda Holden clutched her heart. Alesha Dixon was in tears. Bruno Tonioli couldn’t stop cheering. But it was Simon — usually the hardest to impress — who stunned everyone when he stood up, looked around in disbelief, and slammed the Golden Buzzer.
Confetti rained down as Olly broke down in happy tears, his parents watching from the sidelines in complete awe. “You’re not just talented,” Simon said. “You’re special. You reminded me why I love doing this show.”
What made this moment even more incredible was that it marked Simon’s first-ever live semifinal Golden Buzzer, part of a new format twist introduced for BGT 2025, allowing judges to reward semifinal performances they believe deserve a direct pass to the finals.
Social media exploded within minutes. Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok with clips of the moment, calling it “one of the most iconic buzzer hits in BGT history.” Olly is now one of the front-runners heading into the finals, with many calling him the “next global superstar in the making.”
With the £250,000 grand prize and a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show at stake, the competition just reached a whole new level — and thanks to Simon’s bold move, Olly Pearson is now one step closer to making his rockstar dreams come true.
