Dance troupes and child singers are all very well, but sword swallower Andrew Stanton was too much for Britain's Got Talent viewers. Commencing his slot with a lit-up sword pushing down into his throat, the act only got wilder as time went on.
Hooking various instruments and pieces of metal through his nose and mouth, the massage therapist had the judges agog. And Amanda Holden couldn't decide if she wanted to watch or hide her face.
After Andrew's audition, Ofcom told the Mirror 71 complaints they'd received during the show "were related to a sword swallowing act". And this evening's performance seems likely to repeat the feat.
The crescendo came when Andrew lined the judges up in a jeep and pulled the vehicle. With a tow-rope attached to his face.
Squeamish Joanna @JoJo_Elizabeth_ was one of the first to turn off: "Acts like this sword gobbler I physically cannot watch #BritainsGotTalent."
organised_mess @organisedmess5 tweeted: "I actually can’t watch this. #BritainsGotTalent #BGT #BGT2023."
Rob Gilbert-Warsop @robpw2 said: "I don’t want to see it again... I had to cover my face -it was sick #BritainsGotTalent."
And Louisa @SakuraMoon85 tweeted: "Oh gosh no I couldn't watch him in the audition let alone tonight. #BritainsGotTalent #BGT2023 #BGT."
Britain's Got Talent continues on Wednesday, May 31 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.