Oxford News
Who won the third Britain’s Got Talent semi-final for 2026?
After eight more acts took to the stage and battled it out for their spot, two more acts made it through to the final.
While one got the golden buzzer, the other won on the night thanks to the public vote.
Comedian Ted Hill wins the third BGT semi-final for 2026
The third semi-final tonight (May 9) saw the following acts take part:
- Playground
- The Lux City Choir
- Mizuki Shinagawa
- Mega Unity
- Niamh Noade
- Ted Hill
- Liwei Yang
- Antigravity
Fire-juggler Liwei Yang was given the golden buzzer by KSI after what he described as a “phenomenal” performance.
Ted Hill won the semi-final and secured his spot in the final later this month after getting the most votes from the public.
Comedian Ted, who was Ant and Dec’s golden buzzer from the auditions, left the audience and judges in hysterics with his ‘PowerPoint comedy’ act.
It was harp player and singer Niamh Noade who finished as the runner-up.
Who is in the BGT 2026 final so far?
There have been three semi-finals now for BGT 2026, with six acts confirmed to be in this year’s live final on May 30.
- Matty Juniosa – singer – golden buzzer in semi-final one
- Anastasiia and Salsa – dog act – winner of semi-final one
- LMA – dance group – golden buzzer in semi-final two
- Fabian Fox – magician – winner in semi-final two
- Liwei Yang – fire-juggler – golden buzzer in semi-final three
- Ted Hill – comedian – winner in semi-final three
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What does the winner of BGT 2026 get?
There have been 18 winners of BGT since its first series in 2007, with magician Harry Moulding winning last year.
The winner of BGT will take home a prize of £250,000 and will also be given the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the royal family.
In the ITV show’s first three years, winners won a prize of £100,000, while the biggest winners were Ashleigh and Pudsey with a prize pot of £500,000 in 2012.
Who is your favourite past BGT winner? Let us know in the comments below.
Oxford News
Beckhams facing battle for upgrades at Cotswolds home
Posh Spice and David Beckham have submitted plans to build a new oak balcony at Maplewood Barn, in the 44th application they’ve made since renaming the home they bought a decade ago.
In that time David and Victoria Beckham have been embroiled in numerous rows with neighbours and accused of ‘drip-feeding’ development there.
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And the latest scheme has raised accusations of ‘hypocrisy’ after they had previously accused a neighbour wanting a balcony at their London home of spoiling their privacy.
Victoria Beckham (Image: SWNS)
Documents submitted on behalf of the Beckhams said the latest scheme involved replacing the “Crittall-style screen and doors” and installing an “oak balcony to the western elevation.”
They wrote: “The proposed replacement Crittall-style screen and doors, together with the new oak-framed balcony to the west elevation, have been carefully designed to consider the character and significance of Maplewood Barn and its listed setting.
“The works are to the modern west range constructed as part of the approved barn conversion and will not result in the loss of, or harm to, any historic fabric associated with the original Grade II listed buildings.
“The replacement glazing will match the existing design, proportions, and colour, ensuring visual continuity with the existing barns, while the oak balcony introduces a simple and sympathetic addition that reflects existing timber detailing within the development.
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“Given the small scale of the proposals, and their location within a later addition to the dwelling, it is considered that the works preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed buildings and their setting.”
A planning document image linked to the proposed balcony at David and Victoria Beckham’s home in the Cotswolds (Image: SWNS)
No public comments have so far been submitted but it comes six years after the Beckhams fought a furious planning battle with neighbours at their Holland Park home in London over renovation plans – including their desire for a balcony.
In 2020 they eventually lost the battle to stop the neighbour drastically updating a posh property close to their £31million townhouse.
The celebrity couple had expressed concerns that the neighbour’s architect was creating a whole new patio area including a balcony on the first floor, which may have overlooked their back garden.
Amended plans were approved when a council officer’s report dismissed any privacy fears.
It’s the latest in a string of upgrades to the couple’s Cotswold home near Great Tew since they bought the sprawling property in 2016 (Image: SWNS)
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At the time they stated: “There are no concerns with the impact of the proposal on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers in terms of light, sense of enclosure, noise or privacy.”
The couple have also been involved in multiple rows over work at their Grade-II listed country house at Maplewood Barn, near Great Tew in Oxfordshire
Since buying the three listed barns for £6,150,000 in 2016, they have added a new driveway and gates, an additional garage outbuilding, tennis court, treehouse, security hut, extension to the garage outbuilding and a landscaped pond.
Oxford News
13 nostalgic old photos from June 2006 in Oxfordshire
This Oxford Mail archive gallery of pictures show shots mostly taken by staff photographer Jon Lewis in the summer of 2006.
From the city to the towns and villages of the county, this collection shows a range of summer fun from two decades ago.
Anna de Buriatte, six, in the Spacehopper race at Cokethorpe School Mini Olympics, June 2006 (Image: Jon Lewis)
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End-of-term school events feature in this collection, with school plays and sports days both featured.
Pictures of friendly World Cup rivalry between opposing team’s fans show not much has changed in some respects over the past 20 years.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive gallery to be transported back to June 2006.
Oxford News
Oxford motorcyclist arrested for ‘drug driving’ as 10 bikes seized
Thames Valley Police’s roads policing department focused operations on two-wheeled vehicles in Oxford today, Sunday, June 28, catching multiple riders committing driving offences.
One of them was a rider who was allegedly ‘drug driving’, who was arrested for the offence.
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Police said six other vehicles were seized for having no insurance and two for having no road tax, with more than one of them delivery riders who had to ‘complete their deliveries on foot’.
Police said ‘more than one’ of the motorbikes seized by police in Oxford belonged to a delivery rider (Image: Thames Valley Police)
Officers said: “We’re sorry if this meant your zesty beverages were slightly warm on arrival.”
Two other seizures were for e-bikes being ridden illegally, one of which was clocked travelling at 56km/h without any pedalling from the rider.
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One e-bike rider was clocked travelling at 56km/h with no pedalling (Image: Thames Valley Police)
A spokesperson for the force said: “Our advice – tax and Insure your vehicle, don’t drive if you’re not licenced and don’t use an e-bike capable of travelling at the national speed limit.
“Failing that, we’ll catch up with you later in the week and take your vehicle off your hands – for a small fee of course.”
Laws on riding e-bikes in the UK state that they must have pedal assist only power, a power limited of no more than 250 watts and should travel at a maximum of 15.5mph, or 25km/h.
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