This viral video features the unforgettable audition of Craig Ball on Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) Series 10 in 2016, where he became a national sensation for his unique and hilarious act: singing impressions. The 24-year-old maintenance worker from Hertfordshire managed to combine two popular performance types—singing and impressions—in a clever, original, and uproariously funny way that left the judges and the audience stunned.
The Audition: A “Wrecking Ball” of Impressions 😂
Craig Ball’s choice of song for his audition was Miley Cyrus’s massive hit, “Wrecking Ball,” but he performed it in a mind-blowing medley of different celebrity and character voices. The premise itself was immediately captivating, but the precision and range of his impressions made the routine a huge viral success.
The performance turned a powerful pop ballad into an absurdist, comedic masterpiece, switching characters seamlessly with almost every line. The list of impressions Craig performed included beloved characters that the judges and audience immediately recognized and adored:
- The Muppets/Disney: He famously belted out parts of the song as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
- Family Guy: He perfectly imitated Stewie Griffin and Peter Griffin.
- Other Iconic Characters: The routine also featured voice switches to characters like Elmo and the perpetually troubled Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.
The sheer technical difficulty of not only singing a full song but doing so while rapidly changing voices, maintaining pitch, and accurately reproducing the distinct vocal characteristics of each figure, is what made his audition stand out as “original” and “clever”. It was a novelty act with genuine, high-level talent.
The Judges’ Reaction and Critical Acclaim 🤩
The judges’ initial skepticism quickly melted into delight, shock, and uncontrollable laughter as Craig’s performance unfolded. The studio erupted in cheers, and by the end of the song, the entire panel was on its feet, giving the maintenance worker a full standing ovation.
- David Walliams was one of the most impressed, raving that it was a “brilliant, original way to do impressions”. He also pointed out that Craig chose characters that “you never see people do impressions of,” which added to the uniqueness of the act.
- Simon Cowell, the executive producer and key judge, was completely won over, describing the routine as both “current” and “clever”. Cowell was so enthusiastic that he declared, “I think we may have discovered a big star,” a massive endorsement from the notoriously tough critic. He added that he believed “Kids are going to love this act—he’s brilliant”.
The collective praise resulted in four resounding “Yeses,” instantly advancing Craig to the next stage of the competition.
The Journey to the Final 🌟
Craig Ball’s audition marked the beginning of a remarkable journey in the competition. He capitalized on his initial viral success by bringing new songs and new voices to each subsequent round:
- Semi-Final Performance: Craig continued his unique approach in the semi-finals, performing another massive hit, Adele’s “Hello,” using a new medley of voices. His character lineup for this performance included Shrek, Stewie Griffin (a returning favorite), and Kermit the Frog. This routine was also a massive hit, and he was voted through to the Grand Final.
- Grand Final: In the final, he reprised his iconic audition piece, performing “Wrecking Ball” one more time for the ultimate title. Though he faced some minor mistakes, the audience and judges continued to love the act, with Simon Cowell viewing him as a potential “dark horse” in the competition.
While Craig Ball did not win the competition—the 2016 crown went to magician Richard Jones—he became one of the most memorable and successful novelty acts of the series. His audition video, with tens of millions of views, solidified his status as a brilliant singing impressionist, proving that sometimes, the simplest and most unexpected twist on a classic talent is all it takes to become a superstar 💫🎤.
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