A very merry Christmas! Singer Sydnie WINS Britain’s Got Talent, a coveted place at the Royal Variety Performance and £250,000 after beating magician Jack Rhodes and Ghanaian dancers Afronita and Abigail in ‘best final ever’

Singer Sydnie Christmas was crowned the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2024 during Sunday night’s nail-biting final – described by head judge Simon Cowell as the best he’s ever seen. 

The budding West End star, 28, scooped the coveted £250,000 prize and will get to perform at the Royal Variety Show after impressing judges Bruno Tonioli, Simon, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden and winning over the voting public at home.

She beat ten other outstanding acts with her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow after a jam-packed episode.

Second place went to magician Jack Rhodes, third place went to Ghanaian dancers Abigail and Afronita and fourth place went to opera singer Innocent Masuku.

After winning the overwhelmed star broke down as she said: ‘I don’t know what to say! I cannot believe the amount of love I’ve felt since it aired. It’s absolutely – oh my god. I am overwhelmed with love and I wish for one day that everyone feels the way I do. It’s amazing, thank you so much.’

She was the favourite to take the top spot ahead of the final after winning her semi-final heat with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way that wowed judges.

After her performance on Sunday’s final judge Amanda said: ‘I know how long you have waited for this moment, it was utterly spellbinding and perfect in every way. It was just gold dust.’

Fellow judge Bruno added: ‘That is what I call a show-stopping performance, you took my breath away!’, while Alesha said: ‘You just radiate hope and joy and light – and there was something about that performance and that emotion, I felt it move through my body with you.’

Simon then commented: ‘That was really something special. That lyric felt so personal to you about what you must have wanted over the years with a God-given talent like that and for whatever reason you’ve been ignored. I actually felt very emotional.’

Sydnie, from Kent, works as a receptionist at a local gym on a zero hour contract and previously insisted that despite the outcome of Sunday’s show, she would be returning to work Monday morning.

She joked: ‘I’ve already had two weeks off – and I’m on a zero-hours contract. I have rent to pay!’

Sydnie has dreamt of being able to work full time on the West End and is hopeful that BGT will be a stepping stone to make that dream a reality. 

‘In a year’s time, I hope I’m living my dream. I want to be doing what I love for a living instead of rolling towels and making shakes!’

Before her BGT audition, Sydnie was considering turning her back on her dreams. 

Sydnie said: ‘If you’d have told me on New Year’s Eve that this would be happening in my life five months later, I would have told you something. So I’m very happy and a very lucky girl. I’ve done loads of auditions to get into the West End. It’s always knock backs, always that you don’t fit.

‘All my mates have got babies and getting married. I’m still trying to afford rent in London! So I thought in my head because nothing was happening for me I’ll give it one last go… and here we are today!’

Sydnie appeared in the E4 programme Stage School which ran for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 showcasing the real struggles for students studying performing arts. 

The show followed an array of situations ranging from romantic fallouts to stage dramas. 

Sydnie has had lots of family support during the process with her grandmothers watching her first audition at the Palladium. 

And her long term boyfriend, a fellow musical actor, Max Rizzo from Sicily, has been there to support her. Max is currently signed by an agency who specialise in rising stars.

It was a jam-packed final show, with highlights including when finalist Alex Mitchell paid tribute to Rob Burrow after his performance.

The primary teacher from Leeds, who has autism and Tourette’s, gave an incredible comedy routine and after had some powerful words for Rob’s family.

Inspirational former rugby star and motor neurone disease sufferer Rob tragically died at the age of 41, it was announced on Sunday night.

He passed away at Pinderfield’s Hospital near his home surrounded by his family after becoming ill earlier in the week.

The rugby player was diagnosed with the disease in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season league career.

After his performance Rob said: ‘An hour ago before I came on stage I got some sad news.

‘To the family of Rob Burrow – he is a hero and I hope you know how much we love him here tonight, and for him advocating for disability rights is so important.’

The audience and judges Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden were then seen clapping in agreement.

Also on Sunday night judge Alesha left fans perplexed after her outfit choice for the final.

The judge, 45, was shining as she opted for a one shoulder reflective scarlet red dress. 

Featuring a high leg slit, the star beamed in the ensemble while she styled her hair in a long black twist braid. 

However, fans were left in hysterics at her outfit as they joked it resembled a famous British chocolate, the Quality Street. 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, they shared pictures of the iconic sweet as they likened Alesha’s dress to the wrapper of a strawberry cream.

They joked: ‘Alesha reminding me I have to buy some Quality Streets’; ‘Has everyone already said Alesha’s dress looks like a Quality Street wrapper?’

‘Alesha Dixon came as a Quality Street then’; ‘Is it me or is Alesha Dixon wearing a Quality Street wrapper?’

‘#BGT think Alesha and Amanda are going through the whole Quality Street tin. Tonight it’s the red one’.

‘Alesha dress hideous looks like a quality street wrapper’; ‘Alesha Dixon wearing a dress made from the leftover Quality Street wrappers’.

Elsewhere, judge Amanda saved her best outfit to last as she debuted her riskiest ensemble to date in a shaped silver corset dress. 

The judge, 53, went braless as she showcased her ample cleavage in the carefully positioned dress which featured an armour-like bodice. 

The bottom half of the dress then extended into a sheer silver mesh skirt as she waved to the audience. 

Taking to Instagram with some stunning shots as she lay by the pool in the ensemble, Amanda wrote: ‘Finish with a bang @bgt 7:30pm @itv‘.

Fans took to Twitter to share their opinions on her racy outfit choice as they called it inappropriate for a family show.  

They penned: ‘Considering it’s a family show… Amanda Holden wears the most inappropriate outfits!!’; ‘Wtf is Amanda wearing? #bgt #britainsgottalent #bgtfinal’.

‘I have to ask… Wtf is Amanda Holden wearing and how does it stay up?’; ‘Amanda should just give it up and go topless’.

‘I hope Amanda Holden is ok – she is dressed for open-heart surgery’; ‘#BGT it’s just a matter of time and camera angle until Amanda shows a nipple….’

It wasn’t the only thing that viewers noticed about Amanda as they also hit back at her after she defended the diversity of the show. 

The show has received criticism from viewers from featuring more international acts in this year’s series than ever before. 

Last month fans even threatened to boycott the show and call Ofcom as they claimed the ITV programme has ‘morphed into an international show. 

And during the final Amanda defended the show’s diversity as she thanked dance duo Afronita and Abigail for coming from Ghana to take part in the competition. 

After the pair’s energetic performance the judge gushed: ‘I am in awe of both of you. Thank you so much for coming all this way. This is a global show and we welcome everybody on it and you were amazing.’

While Sydnie Christmas won the show after her beautiful performance of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, this year’s final also featured several international acts. 

Ssaulabi Performance Troupe are a Taekwondo group from South Korea while double-dutch group Haribow are from Japan. 

Singer Nkululeko Innocent Masuku, who is now based in London, is originally from South Africa and is a former studio member of the Cape Town opera. 

Despite the incredible talent, fans weren’t happy with Amanda as they took to Twitter to suggest the show be renamed ‘The Globe’s Got Talent’ after she insisted it was an international show. 

They wrote: ‘If #BGT is a “global show” as Amanda has just claimed, then maybe change the name to ‘The Globe’s Got Talent’.

‘#BGT No Amanda, it’s called Britain’s got Talent! If you want it Global call it The World’s got Talent’.

‘Heard Amanda say last night this show is global so why isn’t it called The Globes got talent’; ‘No Amanda the show is NOT global. It’s BRITAIN’s Got Talent’.

‘If its a “global competition” Amanda, why’s it call BRITAIN’S Got Talent? #BGT’.

Earlier in the series disgruntled fans admitted that they believed the show should be for British people because of its name and wanted to take the issue to the UK TV regulator. 

Angry fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain about the multiple international auditions, with little acts from Britain.

It came after at the start of the show viewers were left baffled as the audience appeared to boo judge Bruno as the final kicked off.

As the episode began on ITV and judges Bruno, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden were introduced by Ant and Dec, Bruno appeared to get a less than positive reaction from the crowds.

Indeed after the first act Haribow – a Double Dutch group – performed as Bruno attempted to give his feedback, the boos were heard again.

Viewers penned on Twitter in reaction: ‘am i going crazy or is bruno getting booed by the audience every time he speaks #BGT.’,

‘Why do the audience keep booing Bruno? #BGT’,

‘Me trying to work out why the audience boo Bruno everytime he speaks? #BGT.’,

‘Is Bruno getting boo’d ? #BGT,’

‘Did bruno just get a few boos, for being nice or am i being a melt? #BGT.’

However others pointed out they could have simply been chanting his name Bruno.

One penned: ‘They don’t boo him, they chant Bruno!’, 

‘I think they are saying. Bruno Bruno Bruno.. but it Just sounds like Boo haha.’

Elsewhere on the show Peter Andre made a surprise appearance during magician Trixy’s incredible performance – leaving viewers stunned.

The Mysterious Girl hitmaker, 51, made an unexpected cameo on the show as part of the impressive act that seemed impossible to pull off.

Trixy started his act by getting judge Simon Cowell to pick a number between 1 and 52 before Simon, 64, settled on 34 and Trixy pulled out his mobile phone.

He then opened a list which showed a celebrity next to each number – and for Simon’s number choice it was Peter.

Simon was then asked to pick a card from a shuffled deck and chose the four of diamonds.

Next on the stage, was a large crowd with each person covering their face and holding a card.

Trixy asked the person who was holding Simon’s card to step forward – and believe it or not in was Peter. 

The judging panel and Simon were all left stunned as Peter stood on stage and danced with Trixy to his iconic hit Mysterious Girl.

Simon then said in his feedback that he ‘genuinely had no idea’ Peter would be making an appearance on the show. 

Viewers loved the act and shared their joy at seeing Peter as well as being in disbelief at the trick: ‘I knew as soon as he mentioned Peter Andre that he was gonna appear on that stage.’,

‘Peter Andre was the evening highlight #BGT.’,

‘WOW massive well done again Trixy that was absolutely amazing I really enjoyed and loved it so much and so good to see Peter Andre in the final tonight!’,

 ‘#Trixy just won #bgt with that astounding trick.’