The professional pickpocket wowed the judges when he revealed how old he really was
Samantha King Content Editor
22:04, 18 Apr 2026
Lee Thompson performed a pickpocket act on stage(Image: ITV)
A professional pickpocket who performed on Britain’s Got Talent tonight (April 18) left the judging panel stunned within seconds of taking to the stage.
Lee Thompson, from Birmingham, had prepared a slick performance where he repeatedly swiped Ant and Dec’s phones, glasses and room keys without them realising.
He was even shown secretly planting wrist watches in the bags and pockets of audience members after posing as security in a pre-recorded segment. He even got the judging panel backstage, including Simon Cowell.
However, within moments of first getting up on stage he had Amanda Holden in particular open-mouthed, as he admitted how old he really was.
He repeatedly swiped items from Ant and Dec’s pockets without them knowing(Image: ITV)
“You look very dapper,” Amanda started as the performer first stepped on stage. He quickly responded: “Oh! Do I look my age?”
“I don’t know, how old are you babes?” the judge quipped, as Lee then admitted: “I’m touching 60.”
His response left Amanda visibly stunned as she retorted with a “You’re not! Are you?” in disbelief. Simon, clearly also impressed, then chimed in with: “You look good.”
After their initial exchange he continued to wow the entire panel with his performance, earning him the moniker of the “modern-day Artful Dodger” from Amanda.
Lee revealed he was ‘touching 60′(Image: ITV)
In fact Lee was actually employed as a Pickpocket Consultant on Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series on Prime Video, which follows a young Sherlock Holmes as he finds himself trying his hand at pickpocketing after being inspired by the story of Oliver Twist.
Viewers at home were also impressed by the star, with one penning: “This is genuinely amazing. Even if he might be incriminating himself.” A second gushed: “That was clever, funny and amazing….good job.”
While Lee sailed through to the next round with four yes votes from the panel, some viewers questioned why he wasn’t awarded the coveted Golden Buzzer which gives an act a free pass through to the live final.
Lee made it through to the next round but missed out on a coveted Golden Buzzer(Image: ITV)
Fans were up in arms tonight after KSI awarded a controversial act his Golden Buzzer. Comedy act Mr Cherry, 44, started his act by opening a jar of pickles before later opening wine bottles with his buttocks.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t know about you but that was the greatest thing I have ever seen,” KSI said, while irked viewers quickly labelled his decision the “worst Golden Buzzer” act ever sent through on the show.
Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday nights from 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX. All episodes can be streamed on ITVX after broadcast.