ITVYou should all know by now, but just in case you didn’t read the headline of the article you just clicked on, Lost Voice Guy won Britain’s Got Talent last night.
After an incredibly close finale to the talent show, where it came down to two brilliant comedians, it was Lost Voice Guy who came out on top and was crowned the winner.
Lost Voice Guy, real name Lee Ridley, is a stand-up comedian who uses a computer to voice his routine because he can’t talk.
He suffers from cerebral palsy, so pre-records his routines and uses a voice synthesizer on a tablet.
Lee was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just six-months-old and subsequently lost the ability to speak.
However, he hasn’t let this hold his back from expressing himself; working as a journalist before turning to comedy.
The final was a tense showdown between Ridley, fellow comedian Robert White and Donchez Dacres.
The Newcastle-born comedian was incredibly nervous on the stage as he waited for the results to be read out by Dec, and the entire auditorium erupted in applause when his name was called.
Now, less than 24 hours since the big win for the comedian, Ridley has revealed what he’s going to spend his prize money on – a new accent for his iPad.
As The Sun reports, the comedian is hoping to swap the current ‘posh Robocop’ accent for his native Geordie one.
The stand-up also revealed he’d like to pay back those who have helped him over the years.
He said:
I also think I’d like to help the people who got me to where I am. I have several support workers who help me get to all of my gigs, so I’d like to reward them properly for all their hard work.
May family have always supported me as well, and let’s face, doing stand up comedy when you can’t even speak is a pretty crazy dream, so I’d buy them all something nice too.
Ridley also added something else he’d like to do now the show has finished:
But, most of all, I also want to become best mates with Ant and Dec.
We think they’d make a great TV-presenting trio!
Earlier this week, Ridley suffered a nasty fall at the hotel in which he was staying, but was adamant he would complete the final despite his injuries.
He wrote at the time:
This is why Lost Balance Guy never made it onto BGT. Don’t worry though, it was only a trip. I’ll be match fit for the final on Sunday!
This is why Lost Balance Guy never made it onto #BGT. Don’t worry though, it was only a trip. I’ll be match fit for the final on Sunday! @BGT pic.twitter.com/SBSXCy02OF
— Lost Voice Guy (@LostVoiceGuy) May 30, 2018
After host Declan Donally did a truly impressive job hosting the final without his usual partner Ant McPartlin by his side, it’s already been brought to question whether McPartlin will return at all.
The 42-year-old checked into rehab following his drink-driving car crash on March 18, and was discharged after a month of treatment.
Simon Cowell, however, has ‘confirmed’ that the presenter will return, saying ‘we want him back’ when the next series is ready to be filmed.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.