Britain’s Got Talent viewers slammed a ‘ridiculously dangerous’ stunt calling it ‘totally unacceptable’ for the ITV family show.
Fans of the show expressed their outrage after a contestant set himself on fire while he tried to solve the Rubik’s Cube, on Sunday evening.
Viewers were left fuming and took to Twitter to call out the shocking moment which saw stunt man Thomas Vu covered in a fire-retardant gel before being set alight as he quickly solved the iconic ’80s puzzle.
Despite the initial shock, at the end of his act Vu received a standing ovation as the panel of judges applauded him.
ITV
But it seems it didn’t go down quite so well with those watching from home who asked what the reality talent show had ‘come to?’.
One horrified fan wrote: “BGT absolutely not on, setting yourself on fire, do not try this at home. Shouldn’t be allowed.” While another asked: “Like what has BGT come to when we set people on fire for entertainment?”
Someone else tweeted: “BGT totally ill considered showing a guy setting himself on fire whilst solving a Rubik’s Cube. No thought to the fact of impressionable children watch the show.”
And another viewer added: “Sorry but showing a man setting himself on fire on a ‘family’ show is not acceptable. Even with the mention ‘do not try this at home’.”
ITV
The reality talent show made its return over the weekend after the departure of David Walliams. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli took to their seats for its sixteenth series.
Many viewers also hit out at the show’s ‘cringe’ opening skit following Ant and Dec’s segment.
The duo paid a visit to the Coronation Street cobbles, as the duo tried to locate the missing judges. They bumped into multiple soap stars before they found Simon’s car parked outside the café, Roy’s Rolls.
One viewer wrote: “Me thinking the intro skit couldn’t get any worse than yesterday’s #bgt #BritainsGotTalent.” And, a second added: “I usually love #BGT but what is with the cheese overload this year?”