Magic does work

MANILA, Philippines – Magic works well in almost anything. Yes, even in winning reality competitions. But if you think Richard Jones made his magic work just to win Britain’s Got Talent, think again. No, it wasn’t through sheer magic that was why he won. It was through his magic card tricks that made him topple the 11 other finalists in this season’s edition.

The 25-year-old magician from London is the 10th champion of Britain’s Got Talent. The first magician to bag the top prize in the competition, Richard touched the hearts of the audience when he featured the emotional story of Britain’s oldest living magician, 97-year-old Fergus Anckorn. The latter, who is a World War II hero, used magic to survive the horrors of being a prisoner of war in Singapore.

Richard capped his act when the real Fergus Anckorn was brought out onstage, much to the loud applause from the crowd. All four judges — Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon — also gave the act a standing ovation.

Richard joined the army in 2010 and spent months in combat training. Before he tried his luck onstage, he earned his current rank as lance corporal. For his prize in Britain’s Got Talent, Richard bagged 250,000 pounds.

Twenty-one-year-old singer Wayne Woodward was the runner-up, even after he suffered an epileptic seizure and collapsed backstage a week before the finals. For his final piece, Wayne dished out Nina Simone’s Feeling Good.

The dance troupe Boogie Storm, well-applauded in their bucketheads as the dancing Stormtroopers, came in third. The group went straight into the semi-finals after judge Simon Cowell pressed his Golden Buzzer.

Fourteen-year-old student Jasmine Elcock was in fourth place. She went straight into the semi-finals when hosts Ant and Dec pressed the Golden Buzzer for her. The Golden Buzzer, meanwhile, returned for the third time this season.

In fifth place was 12-year-old musical theater singer Beau Dermott, who rendered Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked. Beau went straight into the semi-finals after she impressed judge Amanda, who pressed her Golden Buzzer during the auditions.

Impressionist Craig Ball was in sixth place. Trip Hazard’s act failed to make her dog soar and simply landed in seventh place. The singing group 100 Voices of Gospel was eighth. The group also went straight into the semi-finals after judge Alesha pressed her Golden Buzzer.

Alex Magala, who displayed death-defying acts like swallowing swords and wielding chainsaw, was in ninth place. Dancing acts Balance Unity and Shannon and Peter were in 10th and 11th places, respectively.

Mother-and-son singing duo Mel and Jamie came in last. Apparently, their duet of Westlife’s Love Can Build a Bridge was not impressive enough.

Hosted by the English comedy and music duo collectively known as Ant and Dec (Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly), Britain’s Got Talent aired on RTL-CBS Entertainment.