Former finalist Vinnie McKee hospitalized after severe nosebleed
Vinnie McKee, the 31-year-old Scottish singer-songwriter who reached last year's Britain's Got Talent final, has been placed in an induced coma at Warrington Hospital following emergency surgery. According to gbnews.com, McKee suffered a severe nosebleed after his headline performance in London on Sunday, which led doctors to identify a damaged artery. After more than 24 hours in A&E and significant blood loss, he was taken into emergency surgery during which he aspirated blood and his condition became critical, prompting the medical team to induce a coma in intensive care.
McKee became the first Scottish act to earn Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer on Britain's Got Talent with a performance of The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and finished eighth in the final, where magician Harry Moulding won the title. In a social media post from his hospital bed, McKee thanked Warrington Hospital staff for saving his life. Scottish singer and Love Island star Paige Turley was among those sending public well-wishes, and relatives have since visited him at his bedside.
Teen harpist Niamh Noade set for Saturday audition
Seventeen-year-old harpist Niamh Noade from Lislea, Co Armagh, is scheduled to perform on Britain's Got Talent on Saturday, delivering a stripped-back, harp-led cover of Alex Warren's chart-topping hit "Ordinary." A teaser released by ITV shows Noade stepping out with her instrument to perform before the judging panel of Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, and the show's 2026 new judge, YouTuber KSI. The episode airs at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with the full audition expected on the show's official YouTube channel after broadcast.
Noade previously appeared on The Voice Kids UK in 2023, where her performance of "The Winner Takes It All" drew more than 20 million views online. She has spoken about blending traditional Celtic and electric harp textures with contemporary influences, and her performance history includes a duet with Frances Black at Newry Town Hall. New original music from Noade is expected later in summer 2026.
Uganda's Ghetto Kids celebrate World Cup halftime appearance
Ugandan dance troupe the Ghetto Kids, who reached the Britain's Got Talent final in 2023 and competed on America's Got Talent in 2024, performed at the World Cup final halftime show alongside Shakira and Burna Boy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. According to BBC News, members including 10-year-old Sierra and 11-year-old Josephine described the experience as life-changing, with Sierra calling it "very, very, very, very, very good." The troupe's manager Dauda Kavuma said the children "ran around in a circle, banging and shouting" when they learned they had been selected.
The Ghetto Kids originated as a group of homeless children and those who could not afford school fees in Kampala, formed by Kavuma after his own difficult childhood. Their earlier appearances include a previous Waka Waka performance with Shakira on Britain's Got Talent and the 2017 French Montana music video "Unforgettable."
Following the season
Bookmakers are watching Rafferty Coope, the 16-year-old Winchester schoolboy who earned the second Golden Buzzer of season 19 from KSI in March 2026 for a music-and-magic performance built around Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," with his semi-final placement still pending in the live shows. The series winner will receive £250,000 and a slot at the Royal Variety Performance in front of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
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