BGT: The Champions was all filmed in one week leaving Ant and Dec desperate for sleep says magician Richard Jones
BRITAIN'S Got Talent's epic spin-off The Champions was filmed in a single week, leaving everyone working on it desperate for sleep, magician Richard Jones has revealed.
The 29-year-old soldier, who narrowly lost out on a place in the final after David Walliams refused to press his golden buzzer, says the production keeps a gruelling schedule.
Speaking to The Sun Online ahead of the pre-recorded finale, he explained: "It was all in one week. I think it was Wednesday to Tuesday."
He added that the crew - plus hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David - get no time to nap.
Richard explained: "The Britain's Got Talent team are amazing. I don't know how they do it but they hardly sleep at all in that week because they're so busy.
"But they're always on form, always lovely and they're a really switched-on team. I don't know how they manage it."
The magician and soldier left the audience chanting for him to get David's golden buzzer after his act, which was a magical tribute to war veteran and magician Fergus Anckorn.
He brought the soldier up on stage in his winning final performance in 2016, which saw him become the first magician to take the BGT trophy, but sadly Fergus died last year.
Richard added that this time round, the Champions stars had to be ready with an act for the final because it could have been days - or in some cases hours - away.
Richard told us: "It was a quick turnaround. Everyone had to make sure they had a final prepared.
"In fact, what was a little bit of a shame was what I had in the final was special. It would have a great moment to show love for the Forces."
However, he said he didn't bear David any ill-will for not bashing the buzzer that would have gifted him a place in tomorrow's final.
He said: "Obviously it's down to David who he chooses. I don't hold anything against David for that.
"I was so overwhelmed by how it went down that I didn't need anything more. It was the audience I was there for."
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And he'll be cheering for fellow magician Darcy Oake, who escaped from a box and appeared on the other side of Wembley Arena, tomorrow night.
Richard said: "Darcy is amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing what he's got in the final.
"The first time I ever met him was on the show and he was a lovely bloke."
After his success on the show, Richard has added more dates to his 2020 Escape tour.
He said: "We're starting again at the end of February and we've got dates spread out across the year.
"I'm going to get across as many places in the UK as possible."
Tickets for Richard's show .
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