The *BGT* stage fell silent as John Pierce, an unassuming yet magnetic contestant, stepped forward to deliver a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Radiohead’s *Creep* during the 2025 auditions. With just an acoustic guitar and a voice brimming with vulnerability, Pierce transformed the alt-rock anthem into a soul-baring confession, his raspy, emotive tone capturing every ounce of the song’s isolation and longing.
The judges—Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli—leaned in, visibly moved as Pierce’s performance crescendoed from a fragile whisper to a cathartic roar during the iconic *“I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo”* climax. The audience erupted in a standing ovation, many wiping away tears, while Pierce, overcome with emotion, barely managed a humble smile.
Cowell, rarely one for early praise, called it *“one of the most authentic performances we’ve ever had on this stage,”* and by nightfall, the clip had gone viral, with fans praising Pierce for stripping the song back to its raw, heartbreaking core. This wasn’t just a cover—it was a moment of pure, spine-tingling connection.
For those who missed it, the full performance is available here :
Following his viral *Creep* audition, bartender-turned-sensation *John Pierce* returned to the *BGT* stage with an even more ambitious performance—Puccini’s operatic masterpiece *Nessun Dorma*. The emotional performance became one of the most talked-about moments of the season.
The clip went viral overnight, with opera purists and casual fans alike praising Pierce’s versatility. His semifinal performance cemented him as a frontrunner in the competition, proving his *Creep* audition was no fluke—this underdog had true star power.
Pierce had never sung opera before but trained intensively with a vocal coach after his first audition. His journey from alt-rock to opera symbolizes *BGT*’s magic: ordinary people achieving the extraordinary.