London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

Simon Cowell 'breaks rules' after Bruno Tonioli left fighting back tears

Simon Cowell admitted breaking the rules on Britain's Got Talent when an emotional performance left all the judges tearing up.

The media mogul, after Bruno Tonioli insisted he couldn't press the Golden Buzzer for a third time, went on to throw the rulebook out the window and sent the act straight through to the semi-finals.

Concluding Saturday's round of auditions, dance group Unity performed an 'astonishing' routine to Wrabel's The Village.

Aged 16-25, the group of college friends performed a piece about 'being told that you can't or you're not enough'.

Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden, alongside Bruno and Simon, were left visibly emotional at the performance, with the former Strictly Come Dancing judge tearing up.

The powerful act saw one auditionee tell the audience: 'I'm Declan, and labels don't define me, I push the gender boundaries but don't allow discrimination to change who I am.

'People stare and say things, they try to label me, they say I can't be who I am, I will.'

Simon Cowell threw the rule back out the window

The incredible performance was awarded a Golden Buzzer

Amanda Holden grew emotional


Another said: 'I'm Junior, growing up I was bullied for my love of dance.

'Dancing makes me feel free, and allows me to act out my feelings in a safe place.

'Bullies ruined this, I was beaten up and called names, all because a boy loved to dance.'

His comments left many in the audience tearing up, while dancer Bruno was left fighting back tears as Amanda's eyes glossed over.

At the end of the incredible performance, with all four judges giving them a standing ovation, the crowd were screaming: 'Golden Nuzzer.'

'You can be anything and anyone you want to be in life, the message is loud and clear, the execution artistically, your choreography was superb,' Bruno praised.

Bruno Tonioli fought back tears

Simon pressed the Buzzer at the last minute

Unity was sent soaring through to the semi-finals


'There aren't any golds left,' Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly began backstage.

Meanwhile Bruno told his fellow judges: 'I've already done it twice, I can't anymore.'

Simon added: 'I thought that actually was astonishing - the way that you got your message across, it was so strong.

'It was an audition I will never forget.

'What you've done, you've done it your way.'

He then said: 'We don't have any Golden Buzzers left... but sometimes I feel you should break the rules.'

The former X Factor judge then sent the act soaring through to the semi-finals, as Dec said: 'I don't know what's going on anymore!'

Simon added: 'Honestly you deserve that Golden Buzzer, that was absolutely beautiful.'

#ANT 
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×