In a surprising revelation, a former Britain's Got Talent champion has shared how little he is recognised from his time on the hit ITV series, with people still advising him to audition for it nearly a decade after his victory.
From Army Magician to BGT History-Maker
Back in 2016, Richard Jones made history by becoming the first-ever magician to win Britain's Got Talent. The then-soldier triumphed in the tenth series, beating jazz singer Wayne Woodward and dance group Boogie Storm to claim the crown. Now 35, Richard has reflected on how his life has changed in the years since his landmark win.
Despite his impressive feat, Richard admits that many people watching his magic performances today have no idea he ever competed on the show. "The thing I get really often which makes me laugh," he told The Express, "is if I'm ever doing close-up magic, just wandering around and entertaining, almost every gig maybe five or six times I'll get people saying, 'You're amazing. You should go on Britain's Got Talent.'"
He finds the situation highly amusing, often choosing not to reveal his past victory. "I never mention that I've already been on it. Sometimes I say I'd never win that show. That's probably the number one reaction I get from people," he added.
Simon Cowell: The "Kind" Judge Behind the Scenes
In a separate interview with the Daily Mail, Richard opened up about his experiences on the show, particularly his relationship with the famously tough head judge, Simon Cowell. He revealed that the most common question he is asked is about Cowell's true nature.
"And actually, you know what... he's very, very smart, very clever, but he's also just one of the nicest people," Richard confessed. "If you sit down and have a chat with him, he's just such a kind man. He really cares about how the acts do after the show, which is really nice to see."
He described how Cowell continues to show support, saying, "Whenever I bump into him at events, he'll always come over and check in to see how I'm getting on. He doesn't have to do that, but he does because he's a good man."
Who Could Replace Simon?
When pondering the hypothetical scenario of Cowell leaving the judging panel, Richard had a characteristically witty and confident suggestion. "If he ever did, it would be so tough, and honestly, I think the only person who had to fill those shoes is me," he joked. "So spread the word... I'll happily take over if I have to."
On a more serious note, he emphasised Cowell's iconic status to the programme. "I think Simon's great, so I don't think he should ever leave... I feel like it would be a huge mistake for him to step away," Richard stated. "Everyone who goes on the show to audition... the person they need to and want to impress the most is Simon Cowell. If you can impress Simon Cowell, you've done a good job."
Magic Born from Military Service
Long before his BGT fame, Richard's passion for magic was forged during his time serving in the British Army. He explained how he began performing to lift the spirits of his fellow soldiers during difficult postings abroad.
"Something I realised early on in my Army career is that by bringing out a pack of cards and doing some tricks for the other troops around me, it really brightened up people's days," he recalled. "So really, the reason I started doing magic was just to try and boost morale."
The army soon recognised his talent and its positive effect, eventually deploying him specifically as an entertainer. "They started sending me around the UK, but also around the world, specifically as a soldier, but specifically to entertain as a magician, just to make people smile in some of the difficult places that we were operating in," he said. "So I was utilised as the army magician, literally for my career, which is bizarre, but yeah, it's very lucky."
With a decade having passed since his life-changing BGT win, Richard admits the time has "gone quick" and that he has "changed so much." Yet, for many members of the public, he remains an incredibly talented stranger with a bright future ahead of him—on a show he conquered years ago.
