Simon Cowell defends ‘undeserving’ BGT Stormtroopers…but slams former X Factor panel

SIMON Cowell has defended the Britain's Got Talent dancing Stormtroopers after they were branded 'the worst Golden Buzzer act ever'.

The Syco boss used his buzzer to instantly send Star Wars collective Boogie Storm into the live semi-finals, but some viewers soon claimed there were more deserving acts.

But Simon has refused to admit he made a mistake, insisting that the group bring a critical sense of fun to BGT.

He told The Mirror: "Whether you like acts or not, you are all talking about them. 

"I think my Golden Buzzer act went down really well. 

"Have you seen how many views we have had on YouTube? I think it is like eight or nine million now or something. 

"Look, you can argue there are other acts who deserve it a bit more but you are always in the moment when you do it and I am glad I did it because they are unique. 

"I thought they were fun and I had never seen anything like it."

Simon also did his best to defend fix claims following The Sun's revelation that 12-year-old singer Beau McDermott, who won Amanda Holden's Golden Buzzer, received vocal coaching from a top theatre school. 

He said: "The whole thing about whether people have had recording contracts or training or been on shows - you can't write that sort of thing into the rules. 

"The whole point is for anyone who comes on this show, it is because something hasn't worked out in their life. If you take what people are saying you could apply it to sport or business and it is crazy. 

"So I am very happy that people have tried before and then want to come on our show because it will get them a better platform. I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all. Sometimes you can get too uptight about these things. 

"If you apply as few rules as possible you get a better show - I genuinely believe that. And then it is down to the audience."

But Simon was less defensive about the former judges of his other talent show, The X Factor. 

The star admitted that viewers didn't like newcomers Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora, who along with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini have since left the panel. 

He said: "It was clear to me when the show started that the fans didn't like last year's X Factor panel. You can't ignore them."

He also hinted at behind the scenes troubles when asked why BGT's panel has remained unchanged since 2012, while The X Factor quickly burns through judges. 

He said: "I don't know what it is. I guess no drama is one of the reasons."

• Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on  02077824220