Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone Farmers Choir has been crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent 2026, securing the £250,000 prize and a slot at the Royal Variety Performance. The former Top Gear host, 66, was visibly emotional as the result was announced, jumping out of his chair and embracing his choir members, who also burst into tears.
The choir, originally formed for a beer advert, has since used its platform to raise awareness of mental health issues within the farming community. Member Katryna Shell said: 'This is for all the farmers out there, for anybody that's struggling – it's not a taboo subject; if you're not OK, speak up. This is for the farmers.'
The group received a golden buzzer in their audition and are the first choir to win the show. They beat a diverse set of finalists, including dog act Anastasiia and Salsa (third place) and dance group Celestial (second place). Other finalists included Matty Juniosa, Sadeck Berrabah and LMA, Fabian Fox, Liwei Yang, Ted Hill, Sonny Green, and Rafferty Coope.
However, not all viewers were impressed, with many taking to social media to criticise the final as the 'worst' in the show's 19-year history. Some called it 'underwhelming' and suggested the programme has 'run its course'. The live final attracted around 3 million viewers, a stark contrast to past highs of over 10 million.
The series also saw controversy, including criticism of new judge KSI over resurfaced offensive jokes, and a rule-bending moment when hosts Ant and Dec persuaded judges to save musician MC Tazo. Despite the backlash, the Hawkstone Farmers Choir's victory was celebrated as a win for the farming community.
