It's official - Mossley entertainer Jon really is the top Talent!

Date published: 12 October 2020


Would you believe it? - Mossley entertainer Jon Courtenay is the 2020 Britain's Got Talent champion!

In case you haven't kept up to date with the current ITV flagship series, Jon has been wowing the judges in the lead-up to Saturday's glitzy final with his piano playing and original comedic song.

He didn't just wow the judges in the auditions though - he was Ant and Dec's golden buzzer choice.

On Saturday Jon topped everything by winning this year's competition outright, defeating fellow North-West contestants signing choir Sign Along With Us, from rochdale, and Chorley-based variety performer Steve Royle into second and third place respectively.

While it was a hotly-contested final, Jon romped to victory after scoring 35.7% of the public vote.

Sign Along With Us registered 15.33%, while Royle took 14.1% of the final tally.

A delighted Jon won £250,000, as well as a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.

The 47-year-old told Revolution Radio: "When I heard the J of Jon, that was it. It was incredible. 

"That pause which seems like a long time when you're watching it, trust me when you're stood up there that pause between 'the winner is...' and then you've got the music in the background it's even longer.

"I glanced at Ant and Dec at one point, the camera wasn't on me and they're both stood there revelling in this control that they've got while we're standing there sweating and shaking! 

"Sign Along With Us is so amazing. They're such lovely, gorgeous people, they really are.

"Hanging out with them for all the time that we had, I thought you know, coming second to them actually won't be the worst thing in the world.

"I mean they must have so much of the country behind them so I was quite prepared to be second, that would've been lovely but yeah, it was amazing."

Jon added that the support across the UK has been incredible, but particularly encouraging from his local area.

He said: "It's mind-blowing really. All through this process I've been getting messages from strangers and my whole local village has just been amazing, our little Facebook groups and stuff.

"I've seen very little negativity - it's been a whole bunch of gorgeousness which is amazing."

In his interview with the hosts after he was announced as the winner, he said he'd had a dream about the Royal Variety Performance, adding: "It sounds like something I made up for TV but it's totally true.

"I woke up quite early that morning quite excited and I had this idea so quickly grabbed my phone and wrote notes and then looked back at it yesterday and thought actually that might be something so it would be kind of cool if I could write something that came to me in a dream - that would be quite poetic!"

The quarter of a million pounds has also been a welcome addition to Jon's pocket.

Like others in the entertainment sector, he hasn't had work coming in throughout the pandemic, but his winnings mean he no longer has to worry.

Jon said: "We were days away from serious issues because I haven't brought any real money in since March so this is a real life saver."

"On the morning of my audition, my eldest son Nathan said, 'dad if you win Britain's Got Talent, will you buy me the Lego Millennium Falcon', which is around £650 and of course I said yeah don't be ridiculous, I'm not going to win.

"So he's deliriously happy now! I've also got to buy Alfie something to make it even."

And now Jon has got the Royal Variety Performance to look forward to - something he's not quite come to terms with yet.

"I don't think I've quite got my head round it," he added.

"It's going to be very emotional because I've always been a variety entertainer and my parents wanted to be variety entertainers so we always watched the Royal Variety show.

"Obviously the fact that my dad can't see me doing it will be bitter sweet but mum's obviously bursting with pride.

"Just to follow in the footsteps of all of my heroes who have been on that show and to perform for Royalty is mind-blowing to be honest."


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