Hampshire teen magician Rafferty Coope, 17, delivered a semi-final performance that left many viewers convinced he had done enough to earn a Golden Buzzer moment, as he blended illusion, music, and showmanship in a high-energy routine set to the iconic Queen anthem Don’t Stop Me Now.
The Winchester-born performer, who previously received a fast-track Golden Buzzer from KSI during the audition stages, returned to the stage for the live semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent 2026 with an ambitious routine that fused close-up magic, audience participation, and live musical storytelling.
Introducing his act, Rafferty told the judges: “Music doesn’t start with sound. It starts with silence… but the magic only happens when you don’t just hear it, but you feel it.” He then invited the judges to select cards, build a randomly generated time, and ultimately arrive at a chosen track number that led to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, which he then reconstructed live using layered musical loops and illusion-based reveals.
The performance earned a strong reaction from the panel. KSI praised his originality, saying, “Bro, you are unique. You are one of a kind… you are special, bro.” Alesha Dixon called him “joyful” and “confident,” adding that the routine stayed “light” and “fun,” while Amanda Holden described him as “a shining light on that stage,” insisting he was exactly where he was meant to be.
Watch his performance below.
Simon Cowell, however, offered a more measured verdict. While acknowledging the scale of the live performance, he told the teenager: “Didn’t love the singing, apart from that, just enjoying it… you’re not copying other magicians, you’ve got your own thing going. As it stands, you are going to make it through to the final.”
Despite that approval, Cowell’s blunt comment about parts of the act not landing as strongly as others drew attention, especially given the widespread praise from both the audience and viewers watching at home.
Online reactions were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with many fans calling for Rafferty to be given a Golden Buzzer. Comments flooded social platforms describing the performance as “top tier,” “pure joy,” and “world class,” while others argued he was “a finalist for sure” and even a potential winner of the series. One viewer wrote, “This kid deserves the Golden Buzzer,” while another said, “Everyone should be voting for him.”
Some viewers also questioned the broader judging decisions in the semi-finals, with debate continuing over whether Rafferty’s combination of magic and musical performance was overlooked in favour of more emotionally driven acts.
Rafferty’s journey has already been one of the standout stories of the series. A student at Peter Symonds College in Winchester, he previously said, “I see pressure as a privilege,” adding that his rapid rise on the show still feels “incredible” and “unreal.”
Looking ahead, the teenager has promised more ambitious performances if he reaches the final, insisting he wants to “share the joy of music and magic” with as many people as possible.
The Britain’s Got Talent 2026 final will air on May 30, where the winner will receive £250,000 and a coveted Royal Variety Performance slot.
