Both Britain’s Got Talent viewers and the judging panel were left stunned after Simon Cowell demonstrated his David Attenborough impression on Sunday night.
The music mogul, 64, jokingly adopted the beloved host’s famous voice, which he uses to narrate his nature documentaries, to provide feedback to an act during auditions.
Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli were stunned when Geneviève Côté showed off her talent for creating sounds from nature.
The artist, 60, traveled from Canada to audition, and presenters Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly assumed she would sing.
However, instead, she made a series of incredible sound effects and animal impressions to match the nature clips behind her, accompanied by melodic background music.
Both Britain’s Got Talent viewers and the judging panel were left stunned after Simon Cowell demonstrated his David Attenborough impression on Sunday night.
The music mogul, 64, jokingly adopted the beloved host’s famous voice, which he uses to narrate his nature documentaries, to provide feedback to an act during auditions.
Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli were stunned when Geneviève Côté showed off her talent for creating nature sounds (pictured).
Amanda, stunned, said: ‘Is she making the noise? I wasn’t expecting that!’ as Ant declared: ‘OMG, she’s fucking great!’
When it came time to give his opinion, Bruno said: “I was so mesmerized, I felt nature coming out of your body, the expression of nature, the force of nature, you are a force of nature, what can I say!” .
Amanda added: “I think it was one of the most spiritual experiences I’ve ever felt, it was so impressive.” I’ve never seen anything like it in my life!’
As Alesha repeated: ‘I was completely stunned during that whole performance, I just sat here in a trance, mesmerized by you!’
As for Simon’s thoughts, he gushed: ‘This was absolutely incredibly good. Your voice is sensational! Everything about it, it was perfection.’
He then put on David’s voice and pretended to be narrating a documentary, saying, “I think we’re witnessing something really special.”
The audience applauded the impersonation, while a surprised Alesha asked: “How did he do that?”
Amanda laughed and commented, “That’s so good,” while Bruno jumped in to declare, “That’s fantastic!”
Amanda, stunned, said: ‘Is she making the noise? I wasn’t expecting that!’ as Ant declared: ‘OMG, she’s fucking great!’
When it came time for Simon’s thoughts, he put on David’s voice and pretended to be narrating a documentary, saying, “I think we’re witnessing something really special.”
The audience applauded the impersonation, while a surprised Alesha asked: “How did he do that?” and Bruno jumped up to declare: ‘That’s fantastic!’
Viewers watching at home were also shocked, taking to social media to write: “I didn’t know Simon Cowell could do impressions!” while another joked: “Guess David Attenborough gave it his own golden buzzer.”
Viewers watching at home were also shocked, taking to social media to write: “I didn’t know Simon Cowell could do impressions!” while another joked: “Guess David Attenborough gave it his own golden buzzer.”
Simon previously showed his impression of David, 97, on the 2022 show, as he judged mini-environmentalist Aneeshwar Kunchala in the semi-final.
The then seven-year-old boy read a poem about the importance of taking care of the planet, receiving great praise.
Simon said: “It was pure, absolute magic, and let’s remember you’re seven years old and there was a lot to remember and synchronize everything with the images… Here’s a conversation that I think will take place from [sic] Mr Attenborough.
He then adopted David’s distinctive tone and said, “Aneeshwar, I would like you to replace me at Blue Planet.”
Meanwhile, Geneviève got four yeses from the spellbound judges and moved on to the next round.
However, it also generated controversy since it is not the first time that he has performed in a Got Talent contest.
Eagle-eyed fans recognized her from three previous international series over the past year alone, where she earned two elusive Golden Buzzers.
Simon previously showed his impression of David, 97, in the 2022 show, as he judged mini environmentalist Aneeshwar Kunchala, seven, in the semi-final (pictured).
Meanwhile, Geneviève got four yeses from the spellbound judges and moved on to the next round.
However, she also sparked controversy as this is not the first time she has performed on a Got Talent competition, and eagle-eyed fans recognize her from three previous international series.
In March 2023, Geneviève appeared on Canada’s Got Talent and left the judges so amazed that Howie Mandel gave her his Golden Buzzer.
She made it all the way to the final, before being defeated by the dance group Conversion.
However, her performance definitely left an impression on Howie when he brought her to be part of his team on America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League this January.
And between those two appearances, Geneviève also auditioned for the French version of the show, ‘La France a un incroyable talent’.
She received the Golden Buzzer from judge Karine Le Marchland and reached the semi-finals, but was later eliminated.
Britain’s Got Talent allows anyone to enter the competition regardless of experience and previous participation.
However, ITV viewers have become increasingly agitated over the years because contestants are given multiple chances at show stardom.
It comes after the show returned to screens on Saturday night and is apparently already off to a promising start.
In March 2023, Geneviève appeared on Canada’s Got Talent and left the judges so amazed that Howie Mandel gave her his Golden Buzzer and she made it to the finals.
Then Howie brought her to be part of his team on America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League this January (pictured together).
And between those two appearances, Geneviève also auditioned for the French version of the show, ‘La France a un incroyable talent’, getting another Golden Buzzer to the semi-finals.
According to overnight figures, the season 17 launch episode had an average of 5 million viewers, with a peak of 5.8 million.
The ratings make it ITV’s biggest overnight audience so far this year since the FA Cup quarter-final match last month, which garnered 5.5 million viewers.
While the program attracted 642,000 viewers between 16 and 34 years old, approximately 42 percent of the audience.
But despite gaining a huge number of viewers for the station, ratings were still down from last year’s launch episode.
The 2023 premiere peaked at 6.2 million viewers, which ITV said was its highest-rated show of the year.
It reflects a steady decline in views of the show, after the series premiere in 2022 recorded a peak TV audience of 7.2 million, following a two-year hiatus due to Covid.