Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell shocks judges as he 'breaks rule'

Britain's Got Talent returned tonight for its latest round of auditions after having been off air last weekend due to the Six Nations, with yet more acts seen performing on stage

Head judge Simon Cowell changed a rule on Britain's Got Talent during an audition. It came after he shared that he felt "a wave of goodness" over the act's performance.

The ITV show returned this evening for another round of auditions ahead of one act being chosen to perform at the Royal Variety Performance later this year. Simon, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and Amanda Holden are back on the panel for the new series, which launched just last month.

The latest episode included an audition by choir Electric Umbrella, which states that it empowers learning disabled and neurodivergent people. The group performed an original song about acceptance for the four judges, who ended up giving the act a standing ovation afterwards.

During his feedback on the show, Simon said that he felt a "wave of goodness" over the performance. He told the choir: "I feel a wave of goodness here. Everything about this was good. What it stands for. What you did. For me this was like being in a movie. It was just spectacular."

He however went on to share with the choir that there was a "downside" among his response. He told them: "The only, I suppose, downside to this is I don't have any golden buzzers left however ..." Simon - who created Britain's Got Talent - then went on to press the golden buzzer anyway, which guaranteed Electric Umbrella a place in the live semi-finals. The move appeared to surprise his fellow judges, with Alesha, Bruno and then Amanda looking jaw-dropped in the aftermath.

Simon headed onto the stage to join them after confetti fell onto the stage for the occasion and he was soon seen speaking to some members of the choir. He said at one point: "Go and celebrate you." He added: "You deserve it!"

Typically, the four judges are allowed to press the golden buzzer once per series, though they have been known to extend the apparent limit. Simon had already pressed the buzzer for singer Vinnie McKee in a previous episode.

There had been disappointment among fans last week as Britain's Got Talent didn't air last Saturday night. The show's usual slot in the schedule was instead filled by coverage of the final Six Nations match between France and Scotland.

The new series of Britain's Got Talent launched in February and viewers have already seen several acts get the golden buzzer in recent episodes. They include Olly Pearson, 11, whose guitar performance impressed the judges.

Amanda pressed the golden buzzer for Olly and then comforted him whilst he was in tears over the reception to his performance. She said: "Don't cry it's good." She added: "It's a good thing. Well done, well done. So good." She had previously told him: "Oh my God, Olly, I mean literally a star is born. I have never, ever seen anything like that in my life."

Stacey Leadbeatter, 29, is among the other acts who have received a golden buzzer in the latest series already. The singer was met with praise from the judges over her audition in which she gave a rendition of Snow Patrol's song Run.

Guest judge KSI pressed the golden buzzer following her performance. He told her: "The voice that came out of your mouth ... oh my ... I was in awe. I had to press that golden buzzer." He added: "[You] absolutely smashed it, Stacey."

Impressionist Will Burns, 24, had received the first golden buzzer of the new series. He did impressions, including of Big Brother narrator Marcus Bentley, in his audition and was sent straight through to the live semi-finals of the competition by hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly. Will has since teased that he's feeling both "sick" and "excited" about the next round.

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