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  "path": "/celebrity/itv-bgt-britains-got-talent-rafferty-coope",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-30T20:32:43.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "ITV BGT fans left divided by Sonny Green's 'sob story' finale performance: 'Emotional blackmail!'",
    "Fast & Furious star Jason Statham's New Forest estate hit by planning row over protected newts",
    "Jeremy Clarkson unleashes furious rant at judge who spared three teens jail for rape of two girls",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBritain's Got Talent viewers were left frustrated during Saturday night's live final after some claimed they had worked out teenage magician Rafferty Coope's trick, while others were distracted by a separate on-stage blunder involving an accidental swear word.\n\nThe 17-year-old performer returned to the ITV competition's grand final as one of two magicians competing for the £250,000 prize and a place at the Royal Variety Performance.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Coope's routine centred around spreading positivity and encouraging viewers to \"smile\".\n\nHowever, not all fans were convinced by the performance.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDuring the act, judges Alesha Dixon and KSI selected raffle tickets from a bag before Coope wrote the numbers 371415 on top of a white grand piano.\n\nHe then rotated the piano and revealed what he said was the word \"smile\".\n\nViewers at home quickly took to social media, with many arguing the reveal had gone wrong.\n\nOne viewer posted: \"Anyone got a screengrab of that piano lid? It said s***e.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAnother wrote: \"Why does the piano say s***e on top of it...\"\n\nA third added: \"SMILE? I thought it said s***e.\"\n\nOthers believed the upside-down lettering appeared to spell \"sihile\" instead, with one fan joking: \"Can someone tell Rafferty how to spell SMILE cause it ain't sihile.\"\n\nBut the apparent spelling mishap wasn't the only aspect of the performance attracting attention online.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * ITV BGT fans left divided by Sonny Green's 'sob story' finale performance: 'Emotional blackmail!'\n  * Fast & Furious star Jason Statham's New Forest estate hit by planning row over protected newts\n  * Jeremy Clarkson unleashes furious rant at judge who spared three teens jail for rape of two girls\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSome viewers claimed they had spotted how one of the magician's tricks worked during the live show.\n\n\"I also saw Rafferty put Amanda's ring in his back pocket and then obviously take it out again??? Was it just me???\" one viewer wrote on X.\n\nThe comment quickly sparked discussion among fans watching at home, with several questioning whether the illusion had been as convincing as intended.\n\nOthers were more generally critical of the teenager's performance.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"The magician acts get ten times the amount of time the other acts, just to rig it more for them to win,\" one viewer complained.\n\nAnother wrote: \"The choir can't sing, the magician can't do tricks. How are these finalists?\"\n\nA third viewer added: \"I think Rafferty Coope would make a great politician! He's already perfected the skill of talking absolute shite for minutes on end while acting like it's profound.\"\n\nDespite the criticism, many viewers rushed to defend the young magician and praised his unique approach.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOne supporter wrote: \"Rafferty Coope that was incredible how this young lad does magic in such a different way! Incredible act who will go far in his chosen career and definitely made me smile!\"\n\nMr Coope originally secured his place in the competition after receiving KSI's Golden Buzzer during the audition stages and went on to reach the final alongside fellow magician Fabian Fox.\n\nThe pair competed against eight other acts, including poet Sonny Green, singer Matty Juniosa, comedian Ted Hill and The Hawkstone Farmers Choir.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "ITV BGT fans left frustrated as they 'work out' magician's finale act after awkward swear word blunder: 'Was it just me?'"
}