Opera singer Innocent Masuku is the new favourite to win ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent following his performance in the semi-final on Monday 27 May, according to bookmakers William Hill. He sang Hans Zimmer’s Now We Are Free from the movie Gladiator, wowing the judges and the public, who voted him through to the final.
After his first audition, judge Amanda Holden described him as “the best opera singer we have ever had,” while his performance in the semi-final earned Innocent a standing ovation and caused Alesha Dixon to comment: “How do you sum it up? You’re the one to beat. Powerhouse! Chills – I had chills up and down my arm. Mesmerised by you and your talent. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.”
The other act going through from Monday’s semi-final is Ssaulabi Performance Troupe, the Taekwondo group from South Korea who gave a particularly fiery performance on stage.
Innocent Masuku is now in with a chance of winning the entire competition and the prize of £250,000, with bookies William Hill shortening his odds of winning from 12/1 to 5/2. His closest competitors are Denise & Stefan and Haribow, who are both priced at 7/2.
On Tuesday 28 May, William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps commented: “Innocent Masuku certainly hit the right notes with the judges last night and he seems to have struck a chord with punters too as his price to win this year’s Britain’s Got Talent have shrunk to just 5/2 from 12/1 at the weekend.”
“The opera star now leads Denise & Stefan and Haribow, who are both available at 7/2 in the betting, while other semi-final winners The Ssaulabi Performance Troupe have only shortened slightly into 16/1 and remain relative outsiders despite already being in the final.”
Nkululeko Innocent Masuku is a South African operatic tenor living in London. A former member of the Cape Town opera, where he performed in Porgy & Bess and The Magic Flute, the 33 year old now works at the Garsington Opera, based near Oxford. It was announced during the semi-final that Innocent and his fiance, who has supported him from the audience, recently got married.
He is one of 40 acts performing in the semi-finals – on Monday he was one of the two acts sent through out of eight that performed. After the three remaining semi-finals, showing tonight (Tuesday), Wednesday and Thursday, there will be eight acts – including Innocent – left in the competition who will perform in the live final on Sunday 2 June.
Following his performance on Monday, Innocent sent a message on social media thanking the members of the public who voted for him.
“Thank you so much for the love and support and all of the votes. I thank you. Looking forward to Sunday – let’s keep the buzz going!,” he said.
View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/britains-talent-winner-named-favourite-32910284
