A number of soap stars have auditioned for Britain's Got Talent over the years - but some of them were never seen on our TV screens for one reason or another
Over the years, a surprising number of soap opera actors have braved the stage to audition for Britain's Got Talent, including some quite unexpected personalities.
Despite their efforts, several of these stars did not grace our television screens for various reasons. In one instance, an actor from Coronation Street was "most likely disqualified" after his identity became known to the audience.
The rules of the auditions are inclusive – professionals are just as entitled to participate as anyone else – which has raised claims of the competition being a "fix" when seasoned performers compete against novices.
Speaking to Yahoo, a television insider said: "Ultimately, it's the public who decide their winner, irrespective of whether an act has some previous experience. There is no unfair advantage because the winner is crowned by the public vote."Highlighting the show's inclusivity, they added, "It's fair game, as all acts are voted for by the public. The show has never hidden the fact that auditions are open to everybody, irrespective of previous experience, and everybody is given the same opportunity on the show.", reports the Express.
Ian Bartholomew
In one remarkable case, Ian Bartholomew, best known as the Coronation Street wrongdoer Geoff Metcalfe, took his chance on BGT's series 15 following the demise of his character on the streets of Weatherfield.
Portraying a domestic abuser in one of the soap's most harrowing storylines, Ian leveraged his BGT appearance to shed light on domestic violence issues. He performed "This Time It's Forever," an original song penned during the initial Covid-19 lockdown.
The judges were thoroughly impressed when Ian graced the stage, revealing: "I am from Cheshire. I was in Coronation Street. I played nasty Geoff Metcalfe. He was a nasty piece of work. I started in 2018 and I fell off a roof in the show last year. I am 67."
Continuing, he said: "The song I am singing I wrote myself and was used in a campaign by Women's Aid to raise awareness about domestic abuse. I am not here for me, I am here for the charity and the abused victims."
Although moved by his audition, Amanda Holden suggested that the impact would be heightened with survivors joining him: "I saw a woman here and she was in absolute bits and you are a champion for them. For me, it would work much better if you had some women with you and form some kind of choir if they are brave enough to stand with you."
Holden further commented: "It is this odd concept of this man that we all know from Corrie singing about these poor women. I think it needs some coming out behind you so we can turn it into something even stronger. The song is very beautiful."
Despite this remarkable performance, his audition was not broadcast on television.
Thomas Atkinson
In other news, Thomas Atkinson, best recognized for his nefarious role as Lachlan White in Emmerdale, initially launched his career with a focus on music.
The actor reminisced about his unique experience on Britain's Got Talent (BGT) in 2014, not as a competitor but as a backing vocalist for the duo Bars and Melody during the grand finale. He shared: "I was a backing singer on Britain's Got Talent once, when I was younger. Yeah, I was in the final. It was weird."
Reflecting on that period, he admitted: "It was a dark time in my life. We had to do a little sway."
Cait Fitton
Another familiar face from the cobbles, Cait Fitton, is no stranger to the BGT stage. Before her memorable role as Lauren Bolton, which featured a gripping vanishing plotline, Cait showcased her talents in the ITV talent contest.
In 2020, two years prior to her soap opera debut, Cait was part of the ensemble Sign Along With Us, a sign language choir that reached the BGT finals. They delivered an emotive performance of "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman, although they were ultimately outperformed by comedic musician Jon Courtenay.
Cait's participation in the choir came as a surprise to many fans, with one particularly astounded admirer commenting: "The way I've watched their audition 100s of times and never realised Cait was in the group, she's so incredibly talented!".
Jay Kontzle
Before Jay Kontzle became known for his portrayal of Billy Fletcher on Emmerdale, he pursued a career in music. In 2012, Jay and his band The Mend took to the BGT stage, having previously reached the bootcamp round on X Factor.
Their journey on BGT ended with them securing seventh place, despite an existing management deal that led to their earlier X Factor exit.
Jay from the band The Mend opened up to Inside Soap about his past endeavours in music, confessing: "It is true, I was part of a band, and it was an experience. I don't really talk about it now because I've kind of moved on."
He added, reflecting on the pivotal moments from his time with the group, "But the best thing about being in a band was the insight I got into the industry. We worked with people at the top of their game, like Simon Cowell. But in the end, the business side of music put me off."
The Mend, which was initiated by Take That's Nigel Martin-Smith, ventured into the spotlight with their debut single 'Where Were You' back in 2013 and even joined Little Mix on their DNA tour. However, by 2016, The Mend parted ways.
Molly Rainford
In another vein of British talent, EastEnders' Molly Rainford, who at the youthful age of 11 took to the stage of Britain's Got Talent, performed an outstanding version of Jennifer Hudson's hit from Dreamgirls, 'One Night Only'. Her stunning delivery led her to the finale, although the ultimate win went to Ashleigh and Pudsey that year.
Not new to competition, Rainford also graced the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing and recently began her adventure in soapland as Anna Knight, Cindy Beale's daughter, joining the cast of EastEnders in 2023.
Jack Carroll
Meanwhile, Comedian Jack Carroll gained recognition when he became the runner-up of Britain's Got Talent at just 14. He later captivated the heart of Coronation Street viewers when he appeared as Bobby Crawford in 2023.
As the son of the infamous Rob Donovan and nephew to Carla Connor, Bobby has been entwined in some compelling storylines, particularly as Carla faced a fierce battle needing a kidney transplant.
He was defeated by shadow theatre company Attraction in the BGT final, who secured 27% of the public vote.
