Before the final audition of Britain’s Got Talent’s first episode even began, the coveted golden buzzer was already pressed, sending shockwaves through the studio. Australian aerial silk performer Paul Nunnari earned this rare honor, becoming the first contestant in series 19 to secure a direct spot in the live shows, all while performing from his wheelchair.
Midway through the episode, Paul strapped firmly into his chair and took to the aerial silks with extraordinary skill, using only his arms to climb the ropes. Another performer joined him, swinging and spinning around the silks as Paul held onto the material and a small loop at the top. In a dramatic display of strength and balance, Paul was lifted completely horizontal, spinning gracefully in his wheelchair.
The performance grew even more awe-inspiring when Paul repeated the act without holding the loop in his hands. Instead, the loop was placed around his neck, leaving him secured only by his head — allowing him to perform entirely hands-free. The audience erupted in applause as Simon Cowell, typically not a fan of aerial silks, admitted he was captivated by the stunning routine. Unable to contain his admiration, Simon hit the golden buzzer, securing Paul’s passage to the live semi-finals.
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Paul, a paralympian, shared insight into his journey with the Daily Mail. At age 11, a severe “road trauma” caused a spinal cord injury that confined him to a wheelchair. Despite this, Paul recalled his determination from a young age: “When I was in hospital, the two things I wanted to do were learn to do wheelies and to chase nurses. The chair wasn’t a deficit to me – it was the complete opposite.”
He emphasized that his wheelchair has never been a barrier but a different way to approach challenges. “I don’t focus on what I can’t do, but how I can do things differently,” he explained, underscoring his refusal to be defined by his disability. It’s this mindset that fuels his extraordinary performances.
While this golden buzzer moment astonished viewers, early buzzer presses are not unprecedented. Just last year, Scottish singer and bingo caller Vinnie McKee also earned a golden buzzer in the premiere episode of series 18. Since each judge is permitted only one golden buzzer per season, Simon Cowell’s use of his buzzer leaves little doubt that it will be his sole golden moment this year.
However, judges Alesha Dixon hinted during a launch event at some playful buzzer rivalry this season. She revealed a spirited tussle with Simon over the golden buzzer left her accidentally injured: “I injured myself trying to stop Simon pressing the Golden Buzzer.” She went on to describe a moment of competitive energy where she literally dove across the judging desk to prevent him from pressing it prematurely.
Simon confirmed that tensions were high among the judges over buzzer use, joking about “fighting over the Golden Buzzer a lot” this series. The fact that this buzzer moment was not caught on camera during Paul’s audition suggests Simon had his sights set on more than one act.
Paul Nunnari’s groundbreaking, wheelchair-powered aerial silk performance captivated not only the judges but also millions of viewers—and set a high bar for this season’s talent on Britain’s Got Talent.