The adage ‘don’t attempt this at home’ has never been more relevant than this weekend on Britain’s Got Talent.
Sword swallower Andrew Stanton did what Simon Cowell termed as “the most disgusting thing” he’d ever seen on the show in horrifying and horrific scenes.
The stunt actor (who works as a massage therapist by day) declined to speak as he stepped onto the platform, leaving everyone wondering what he was going to do.
He then swallowed one blade in front of the judges’ table, which Amanda Holden, Bruno Tonioli, and Alesha Dixon struggled to witness.
But Andrew didn’t stop there, pulling out three swords and, you guessed it, sticking them down his neck.
As the auditionee made it look like easy work, the audience continued to gasp and scream.
His helper then banged the swords in with… a frying pan, just to make sure they were totally in there.
We’re getting nauseated just thinking about it.
Andrew accomplished something never seen before on BGT for his finale.
He invited a terrified Amanda, 52, to the platform and told her to lie down underneath him with a belt around her waist.
Once she was in position, Andrew swallowed a final sword and attached himself to Amanda, clipping chains to her waist and his actual eye sockets.
As the crowd roared and the remaining judges lept out of their seats in shock, Andrew lifted Amanda clean off the ground.
It was a truly petrifying moment, with hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly also unable to watch as they asked: ‘What is wrong with him?’
Sharing their horror online, Twitter users admitted they were ‘traumatised’ by the whole thing.
‘That was the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever seen’, one person wrote.
Another wrote: ‘That was shocking to watch but I LOVED IT’.
‘It’s a no from me! I couldn’t watch any of it’, another wrote.
The judges gave Andrew four yeses, but we’re not sure we’re enthusiastic to see what he does next…
Britain’s Got Talent returns next Saturday on ITV1 and ITVX.