Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left divided during Saturday night’s live final, with some fans accusing the show of being a “fix” after Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Farmers Choir went on to win the competition.

The ITV talent show returned on May 30 with 10 finalists competing for the £250,000 prize and a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Performance.

Among the acts returning for one final performance was The Hawkstone Farmers Choir, the 32-member group originally brought together by Jeremy Clarkson and named after his Hawkstone brewery.

The choir, made up of agricultural workers from rural Oxfordshire, first secured their place in the competition after Amanda Holden pressed the Golden Buzzer during auditions.

Many of the singers live and work near Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, and the group has spoken openly throughout the series about wanting to raise awareness for mental health struggles within the farming community.

During their original audition, choir member Catriona explained: “Jeremy Clarkson did a thing, and that thing was the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir. Jeremy brought us together to sing and it’s just been really amazing for us all.”

She continued: “Every single one of us is in agriculture in some way or another. This isn’t our day job, we’re normally out in the field.

“We work by ourselves day in, day out, sometimes 16 hours a day. This has brought us all together… We have one thing that unites us and that is farming. We love what we do, but it’s incredibly lonely. It’s really isolating, to do this all together means the world to us.”

For the grand final, the choir took a major risk by performing an original song titled This Is Home. During the emotional performance, cameras repeatedly cut to Clarkson sitting in the audience, visibly emotional as he wiped away tears while watching the group sing.

The judges were full of praise after the performance.

Amanda Holden called it “an incredible song” and “an amazing performance,” while KSI said: “It’s such a risk especially in the final to do an original song, but put that on Spotify.”

Alesha Dixon added: “We can feel the warmth and how much it means to you. You sounded fantastic. You’re in with a real shot tonight.”

Simon Cowell also praised the decision to perform an original track, telling the choir: “Tonight that was absolutely on the money. The best act we’ve seen so far tonight.”

Later in the evening, The Hawkstone Farmers Choir were officially crowned the winners of Britain’s Got Talent 2026.

However, not all viewers were convinced by the result, with several fans taking to X to claim the competition favored the choir because of Clarkson’s involvement and his ties to ITV.

“How much money do you think Jeremy Clarkson gave to try and make sure the farmers win #BGT,” one viewer posted.

Another wrote: “Why does it constantly feel like #BGT is pushing for Hawkstone Farmers Choir to win… they don’t talk this much praise about other acts, the constant panning to Jeremy Clarkson… It just feels like its already been decided… by the production team.”

“Pure fix if the choir win #bgt,” another fan complained.

One viewer added: “I think Simon is being nice while Jeremy is in the house. The choir was very good but not sure it was a winning performance.”

Another posted: “The judges REALLY pushing Clarkson’s choir. And Simon Cowell wonders why the ratings have been dire this year? Is the fix in? #BGT #BritainsGotTalent.”

“Fix – oh they magically wrote a song did they? #bgt #britainsgottalent,” another sarcastically commented.

Still, plenty of viewers supported the result and praised the choir’s message and performance.

“WOW! Just WOW! What a choir, what a performance. This is a WINNER! So lovely to see Jeremy Clarkson in the audience. We need them to win, to support so many farmers who need support out there,” one supporter wrote.

Another added: “Whether you like Jeremy Clarkson or not (and I know a lot don’t), for the farmers who work so hard in all weathers, please vote for Hawkstone Farmers Choir on Britain’s Got Talent. I am. In any case, farmers or not, they are a cracking choir.”

Source: liverpoolecho