Comedian Nabil Abdulrashid was put through to the Britain’s Got Talent final during Saturday night’s show.
The funnyman, 35, wowed the judges with his act that saw him joke about racism, amongst other things, during the programme’s last semi-final, after Diversity’s Black Lives Matter-inspired dance sparked 24,500 Ofcom complaints.
Nabil won Alesha Dixon’s Golden Buzzer during his audition earlier in the year, and it was clear why he deserved the accolade as he yet again left the judges in hysterics with his comedy routine before they hailed him as ‘edgy and brave’.
Success! Comedian Nabil Abdulrashid was voted through to the BGT final by judges on Saturday after his ‘edgy and brave’ act on racism
After his act, which saw him make a joke about how his ‘white liberal left-wing friend’ told him to ‘forget he was black’ so that he wouldn’t be subjected to racism, Alesha heaped praise on him as she opened up the judges critiques.
She began: ‘I really enjoyed it, the reason I picked you as my Golden Buzzer is you’re quite edgy, you’re different, and you’re that guy.
‘It’s okay to feel a bit uncomfortable with comedy, I think that’s what comedy is about and I think you’re very brave to take on the subject of racism, very poignant right now.’
In hysterics: Ashley Banjo, whose group Diversity sparked 24,500 complaints to Ofcom with their BLM-inspired dance earlier this month, called Nabil’s act ‘legendary’
Funnyman: Nabil’s act saw him make jokes about his ‘white liberal left-wing’ friend tell him to ‘forget he is black’ so that he wouldn’t be subjected to racism
She went on: ‘I think we all need to learn to laugh a bit more and have fun so well done, it was great.’
Amanda Holden reiterated Alesha’s sentiment, as she went on: ‘Absolutely, comedy should be about pushing boundaries, it should be about taking us right to the edge and tonight you made me really laugh, so congratulations.’
Ashley Banjo, who recently admitted he and his fellow Diversity members were subjected to racist abuse following their performance in the show’s first semi final, called Nabil’s act ‘legendary.’
Delighted: Nabil won Alesha Dixon’s Golden Buzzer during his audition earlier in the year, and she heaped praise on him before hailing him as ‘edgy and brave’ for tackling racism in his act
Gushing: Alesha said, ‘It’s okay to feel a bit uncomfortable with comedy, I think that’s what comedy is about and I think you’re very brave to take on the subject of racism, very poignant’
The professional dancer gushed: ‘Legendary stuff bro, legendary. I did nothing but laugh.
‘A lot of comedians have found this really hard with a virtual audience but I didn’t even think about that for a minute with you.
‘You should be in the final and for me you should be up to win this competition man, very well done.’
David Walliams went on: ‘It was a brilliant set, Britain’s Got Talent can be bigger and better if we can have really fantastic, edgy comedy on this show.
Amused: Amanda Holden reiterated Alesha’s sentiment, as she went on: ‘Absolutely, comedy should be about pushing boundaries, it should be about taking us right to the edge’
From one comedian to another: David Walliams claimed that ‘Alesha made the right decision’ to pick him for her Golden Buzzer as he said his act was ‘absolutely hilarious’
‘But, the only way we can really judge comedy was “was it funny?” and it was absolutely hilarious, you are one to watch in this competition and Alesha made the right decision.’
Nabil was up against daredevil Wesley Williams and gospel choir Shalom Chorale to get to the final, but went through thanks to the resounding support of Alesha, Ashley, and David.
Head judge Amanda’s vote wasn’t needed, but when asked by co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly who she would have picked she admitted that her choice was Wesley, and she joked that Nabil needed ‘to bring a unicycle’ to the final.
After being put through, Nabil was emotional and claimed he was happy he had made it through because it ‘meant a lot’ as he represented a lot of people.
Candid: After being put through, Nabil was emotional and claimed he was happy he had made it through as it ‘meant a lot’ as he represented a lot of people
Up for public vote: Head judge Amanda’s vote wasn’t needed, but when asked who she would have picked she admitted that her choice was Wesley Williams (pictured)
Most viewers were absolutely delighted by Nabil’s performance, agreeing with the judges that his act was ‘hilarious’ and that he did a great job.
One viewer gushed: ‘Good on you Nabil for pushing the boundaries, you were fab!’
While another said: ‘Now THAT was a comedy set. Nabil nailed it.’
Praising his comedy routine, one fan went on: ‘Absolutely brilliant, I literally didn’t stop laughing… Nabil’s a legend.’
But not all viewers were pleased by Nabil’s performance as one complained: ‘Think the judges have got this one wrong. He wasn’t funny at all #BritainsGotTalent in fact it was that rubbish I turned off to #StrictlyComeDancing’
While another claimed: ‘I thinka ll the golden buzzers this year have been poor.’
Impressed: Most viewers were absolutely delighted by Nabil’s performance, agreeing with the judges that his act was ‘hilarious’ and that he did a great job
Unhappy: But not all viewers were pleased by Nabil’s performance
But more fans joked about whether there would be an influx of complaints to Ofcom after Nabil’s performance, following recent controversy surrounding the show.
One viewer wrote: ‘Nabil was absolutely brilliant! Funny and relevant, also, I’m pretty sure the racists who swore blind they’d never watch #BritainsGotTalent again are currently dialling OfCom’
While another shared a scene from The Office US and said: ‘Actual footage of Ofcom headquarters preparing for the overhaul of complaints after Nabil’s comedy performance #BritainsGotTalent’
A viewer claimed: ‘Nabil was hilarious, ofcom are gonna have one hell of a night tonight.’
Posting a picture of a cat typing rapidly, one person said: ‘All those people who complained about Diversity’s dance routine about to email Ofcom agai (sic).’
Amusing: But more fans joked about whether there would be an influx of complaints to Ofcom after Nabil’s performance, following recent controversy surrounding the show
It was reported on Thursday that the show has ‘become the most complained about series of 2020’ after 27,006 people contacted Ofcom since it returned to small screens.
Diversity’s Black Lives Matter inspired performance during the show’s first semi-final attracted 24,500 complaints to OfCom, who have since announced they will not investigate any further.
ITV has ‘stood with Diversity’ as they featured adverts in national newspapers in support of the controversial dance.
ITV are believed to have spent around £260,000 on the newspaper ads with full-page monochrome pieces in The Metro costing £36,461 and £27,700 in The Mirror.
Controversy: Diversity’s dance last month sparked 24,500 complaints but Ofcom have since announced they will not investigate any further
Alesha was one of many who praised ITV for standing by the dance troupe. The singer took to Instagram to share a snap of the advert and gushed over how ‘proud’ she was with them.
In her caption, she wrote: ‘Well done @ITV for standing with Diversity! Proud of you! This image is in all of the national newspapers today.’
Ashley also shared his gratitude with ITV for standing by Diversity over their Black Lives Matter-inspired performance.
Making a statement: ITV rolled out full-page ads in solidarity with Diversity as Ofcom complaints reach 24,500 over the groups BLM-inspired routine. Ashley pictured
Decision: A spokesperson for government-approved regulatory body Ofcom confirmed to MailOnline no action will be taken for Diversity’s BLM-inspired routine
The poster showed a poignant black and white image of Ashley taking the knee alongside the words: ‘We are changed by what we see. Just as we are changed when we are seen. ITV stand with Diversity.’
Sharing a snap of the same advert, which shows him kneeling in black-and-white, he wrote: ‘This is what change looks like.
‘@ITV stand with @Diversity and we’ve never been prouder. This is in all the national papers today. Thank you again to everyone that has supported us.’
Support: The broadcaster shared a statement on their Twitter page as the furore continued
Meanwhile, Amanda’s racy gown on last week’s show sparked 235 Ofcom complaints and led viewers to question whether she had suffered a wardrobe malfunction.
Following Saturday’s show, some fans claimed on Twitter that Amanda had suffered a nip slip in the look and she took to Instagram at the time to shut down speculation.
Amanda had worn a plunging navy gown with a daring thigh-high slit which had a built in underwire on the bust.
Discussing the recent furore over her outfit on Saturday’s show and the 235 Ofcom complaints it has received, Amanda told MailOnline she has used her ‘sense of humour’ to deal with the backlash.
Controversial: Meanwhile Amanda’s racy gown on last week’s show sparked 235 Ofcom complaints and led viewers to question whether she had suffered a wardrobe malfunction
In her typically tongue-in-cheek humour, the singer joked to MailOnline that she was more insulted that people thought she had ‘huge saucepan nipples’.
The Heart radio presenter said: ‘I can see what people think, it had a like an underwire, you know when you have an underwire bikini or bra, the end of it it’s like an upside down U isn’t it. The end of it dug in.
‘I was more insulted that people thought I had either huge saucepan nipples or nipples over my cleavage.’
Racy? Following Saturday’s show, some fans claimed on Twitter that Amanda had suffered a nip slip in the look and she took to Instagram at the time to shut down speculation