'BGT: The Champions' contestant Paul Potts denies 'sulking' after humiliating elimination
Britain’s Got Talent star Paul Potts has denied he was “sulking” after his shock elimination from BGT: The Champions in the very first round.
The mobile-phone-salesman-turned-opera-singer - who won the very first series of the ITV talent show - was booted off in the pre-recorded show last night, leaving viewers and even judges Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden shocked.
Potts took to Twitter to deny viewers’ comments that he had been mortified to not make it through to the final.
The 48-year-old tenor wrote: “To those that thought I was sulking - that's what I look like most of the time lol I can prove it with this still from the original audition: I don't do fake smiles, but it doesn't mean I am grumpy sulky or feeling entitled.”
Read more: BGT The Champions winner leaked
Potts - who made it through to the final of America’s Got Talent: The Champions last year - failed to even make it into the top three chosen by the live audience.
When the results were revealed by Ant and Dec, Cowell look stunned. Shocked Amanda Holden yelled out: "What about Paul Potts?"
Potts was beaten by dancing stormtroopers Boogie Storm, dog trainer Ashley and Sully and American father-and-daughter daredevil act Bello and Annaliese Nock, who ended up being chosen to go through to the final.
The return of 24-year-old dog trainer Ashleigh Butler with her new dog Sully also sparked some strong emotions.
Butler opened up about pooch Pudsey’s death in 2017, moving some viewers to tears.
"Pudsey had a long and incredible life but it was unfortunately cut short very unexpectedly.
"Pudsey was so weak at the end that he had to be on oxygen and he was really struggling.
"He actually lifted his head and had a little look at me. That was him saying goodbye."
Cowell told her: "That film made me really sad to begin with but then I’m thinking Pudsey is in dog heaven, looking down now at you.
Read more: Simon Cowell bursts into tears
"And everyone forgets how amazing you are. You have this absolute gift with animals.
"What an amazing start to the show because you define the word ‘champion’. Congratulations."
But Ashleigh and Sully also failed to make it through to the final.