LONDON, May 17, 2026 — Rafferty Coope is heading to the Britain’s Got Talent grand final.
The 17-year-old magician won the public vote during Semi-Final 4, which aired Saturday, May 16, on ITV1, ITVX and STV, earning one of two coveted spots in the May 30 finale.
For his semi-final performance, Coope had each of the four judges select a card and place it face down on the table. He then had KSI adjust the dial on his watch, asked Amanda Holden to name a number between one and twelve, and Alesha Dixon to name a number between one and 60 — before it was revealed that KSI had already set his watch to match both numbers precisely. Coope then had Simon Cowell select a song from a numbered list on his phone before building the track live on stage using a loop pedal, drums, bass and piano, ultimately performing “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen — at which point each judge turned over their cards revealing each had selected one of the deck’s four Queens.
Alesha Dixon praised his confidence and passion for what he does. Simon Cowell noted that Coope has developed a distinctive style rather than copying other magicians.
The young magician earned his place in the semi-finals via a Golden Buzzer from KSI — pressed with his foot while standing on the judges’ desk — following an audition in which he played harmonica, appeared to transform it into a bar of chocolate, passed an AirPod through a glass, and culminated by playing “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey on piano, using a melody derived from the values of cards KSI had selected and arranged. The audience was on its feet and singing along before the song ended — at which point Coope had KSI turn the cards face down revealing a letter on the back of each one, spelling out the word “B-E-L-I-E-V-E.” (See more on Conjurly about Coope’s Golden Buzzer win)
Coope will compete in the final show alongside fellow illusionist Fabian Fox, 26, of Austria, who advanced to the final two weeks earlier after winning Semi-Final 2 with a time-traveling motorcycle illusion that left judge KSI calling it one of the most incredible things he had ever seen. (See more coverage of Fox on Conjurly)
Coope and Fox will not be the first magicians to make an impression on BGT’s biggest stage. Richard Jones, a Lance Corporal in the Household Cavalry, became the first magician to win the competition in 2016, and Harry Moulding claimed the title just last year. But Series 19 marks the first time two magicians have reached the grand final simultaneously — a notable moment for the art form.
Poet Sonny Green also advanced to the grand final from Semi-Final 4 by receiving the judges’ Golden Buzzer after an emotional performance about his relationship with his sons moved KSI to tears.
Six acts had already secured their grand final places heading into Semi-Final 4: singer Matty Juniosa and dog act Anastasiia and Salsa from Semi-Final 1; dance group LMA and magician Fabian Fox from Semi-Final 2; and danger act Liwei Yang and comedian Ted Hill from Semi-Final 3. With Coope and Green now added, the grand final lineup stands at eight acts. The final airs May 30 on ITV1 and ITVX.
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