Britain’s Got Talent judges and hosts were left gobsmacked by an audacious audition in the latest episode that quite literally left them out of pocket
11:00, 18 Apr 2026Updated 11:38, 18 Apr 2026
Lee Thompson stuned the BGT judges(Image: Tom Dymond)
Britain’s Got Talent judges and hosts were left stunned when they realised they had been “robbed” during the auditions. In Saturday’s show, a real-life ‘Artful Dodger’ managed to pick the pockets of the panel, including KSI, leaving them completely “gobsmacked.”
The drama unfolded when a mysterious contestant took to the stage, but it wasn’t until the act finished that the true scale of the “crime” was revealed. Hosts Ant and Dec, usually the ones playing the pranks, found themselves at the centre of the sting.
The Geordie duo were left frantic when they realised their smartphones and private key cards had vanished while they were busy filming. But the ‘thief’ didn’t stop there.
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The judging panel were left baffled by one performer in particular(Image: ITV)
KSI was left visibly rattled and clutching his chest when he realised the nimble-fingered performer had been “all up in his pockets” without him feeling a single thing. And to make matters worse the thief had disappeared like a ghost.
But before Simon Cowell could call for the police, the light-fingered culprit revealed his true identity and the reason behind the thefts. A show source said: “It was an auction nothing like we have had before on BGT. The man was using professional magic to pickpocket whilst auditioning for the show.
“Things went from being very tense to admiration and shock and what had happened. The judges and hosts were still talking about it for hours afterwards.”
In a tense but hilarious reveal, the male performer began producing the stolen goods one by one, including Ant & Dec’s smartphones, hotel key cards, and other personal items. He then left the crowd and the judges bamboozled when he also revealed he’s snuck some wristwatches into people’s pockets without them realising – including Ant & Dec, KSI and Simon.
After his audition, Amanda responded: “Oh my gosh, I think you’re a modern-day Artful Dodger”. The contestant, who will be fully unmasked on the episode, describes himself as a ‘pickpocket for hire’ and was even employed as a Pickpocket Consultant on Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock.
Viewers will find out on the show if he has stolen a place in the next round of the ITV competition. This weekend is the conclusion of the auditions before the show moves onto the live semi finals stage.
Last week saw viewers stunned by another audition as the judges were yet again targeted. A lyrically dexterous youth worker, 35, from Dagenham recited a rap that took aim at the judges, including Simon Cowell, in brutal fashion.
The performance left the panel gobsmacked and viewers at home were unanimous in their praise for the impressive act. Talented musician REN DMC fired out insults at the famous panel, which also included Amanda Holden, KSI and Alesha Dixon. Ant and Dec were also targeted.
Digs included criticism of Amanda’s radio show and KSI’s musical talents. The hopeful chanted: “I heard that you do boxing now… I know why you hit your opponents, because you can’t make a hit in your music.” He then labelled him “the worst thing in rap since Ant and Dec.” Alesha was also called out by the hopeful, as her girl group Mystique was branded the “Temu Spice Girls”.
* Britain’s Got Talent is on Saturday at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
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