Britain's Got Talent Finale 2023: The most successful acts over the past 16 years and where are they now

The Britain’s Got Talent final has quickly crept upon us, we have had weeks of watching all of the acts battle it out for a place in the 2023 final on 4 June. Contestants including Viggo Venn, Olivia Lynes, Ghetto Kids and Travis George are just some of the acts hoping to be crowned the winner and get the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show. 

The show has been on our TV screens now for 16 years and over those years has produced some stand out contestants that have gone on to be successful even after the show. 

The first winner of BGT was opera singer Paul Potts back in 2007. The singing sensation went on to release seven studio albums and toured all around the world. James Cordon even played him in the film ‘One Chance’ based on his life. 

Of course we can’t talk about the most successful acts without discussing the phenomenal dance group Diversity. The street dancing group have come a long way since they won the show in season three. As well as sell out tours, founder of the group Ashley Banjo has opened his own dance school. 

Ashley has even become a TV show judge himself on shows such as ‘Got to Dance’ and ‘Dancing on Ice’. He has also co-wrote a children's book with brother and diversity star Jordan Banjo. 

Jordan starred in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and he currently hosts Kiss FM Breakfast show with fellow Diversity star Perri Kiely.

The group performed for the Queen Elizabeth II during the platinum jubilee celebrations.

Although Susan Boyle lost out to the winners Diversity, she went onto to superstardom after blowing everyone away with her beautiful singing voice. Susan sang ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from the musical ‘Les Misérables’ in her audition for BGT. She has since had seven studio albums. Susan may be a huge star but the humble singer still lives in her family home in Scotland. 

Who would've thought that a dog would win BGT, well with the help of owner and trainer Ashleigh that’s exactly what Pudsey the dog did. The pair won the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2012. 

Everyone’s favourite dog went on to sign a book deal - yes you read that right - ‘Pudsey my Autobiography’. The duo were guest judges on the ITV2 show ‘Top Dog Model’ and ‘That Dog Can Dance’ and starred in children’s TV programme ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’. 

Ashleigh and Pudsey were also in the ‘Dick Whittingham’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ pantomime where they of course played lead roles Dorothy and Toto. That wasn’t all there was even a movie aptly named ‘Pudsey: The Movie’ and Pudsey was voiced by former BGT judge David Walliams. 

Sadly Pudsey died in 2017 at the age of 11. He lived a super life and will be forever remembered as one of the most successful Britain's Got Talent acts ever.  

Watch Britain’s Got Talent Final 2023 on ITV Sunday 4 June from 7:30pm