A vocal ensemble originally assembled by television presenter Jeremy Clarkson has officially been crowned the champion of Britain’s Got Talent 2026.
The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, which was established to support agricultural workers local to Chadlington, Oxfordshire, secured the top spot following a nationwide public vote during the live finale broadcast. Upon receiving the trophy from hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, choir member Katryna Shell highlighted the milestone, noting that the group is the first choir in the history of the ITV talent franchise to secure the grand prize.
The victory guarantees the ensemble a £250,000 financial payout and an official performance invitation to the annual Royal Variety Performance.
A Moving Original Performance and Direct Praise
Before taking the stage, the collective acknowledged Clarkson, who observed the live proceedings directly from the auditorium audience, as their primary supporter and advocate.
The group opted to deliver an original musical arrangement for the finale, a strategic choice that drew significant praise from the evaluation panel:
- Simon Cowell admitted he initially harbored reservations regarding their decision to perform an original piece but concluded that the strategy was successful, characterizing the performance as deeply heartfelt and joyous.
- Amanda Holden expressed profound emotional resonance with the vocal production, highly praising the group’s internal harmonies and the seasonal thematic visual backdrop that accompanied the lyrics.
The milestone follows their initial competitive breakthrough on May 23, when the group secured their spot in the final round by winning their respective live semi-final heat. Reflecting on the journey, Dorset-based agriculturalist and choir member Ben Chick described the live stage experience as immensely exhilarating.
Final 2026 Leaderboard Standings
The live broadcast concluded with a definitive ranking of the top-performing acts from the 2026 talent cycle:
- 1st Place (Winner): The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir
- 2nd Place (Runner-up): Drone display collective Celestial
- 3rd Place: Animal variety act Anastasiia and Salsa
- 5th Place: Teenage illusionist Rafferty Coope
Hampshire-born magician Rafferty Coope completed his competitive run in the top five after initially advancing to the live rounds via a Golden Buzzer designation from judge KSI earlier in the spring television cycle. His initial routine gained prominence for integrating classic music arrangements with traditional stage illusion mechanics
