Stacey Leadbetter, the 29‑year‑old supermarket worker from Yorkshire, stunned everyone on Britain’s Got Talent when YouTube star KSI awarded her the Golden Buzzer during Saturday’s episode. Singing Leona Lewis’s version of “Run”, she earned a direct ticket to the semi-finals after only having sung publicly once before.
What makes Stacey’s rise extraordinary is that she endured a severe speech impediment requiring her to retrain her voice. During lockdown, she diligently watched adult speech‑therapy videos on YouTube and integrated the exercises into her singing routine. Without regular practice, her stutter returns.
Reflecting on her past, Stacey shared that school was challenging—she was mocked for her stutter, and kids often mimicked her. But instead of holding her back, she used those experiences to fuel her comeback.
When KSI pressed that Golden Buzzer, the audience erupted in cheers of “Push the buzzer!”, and judge Amanda Holden called her “amazing”.
KSI later expressed he hoped Stacey would win the show, praising her inspiring journey—from working in a chicken shop to dominating the BGT stage.
Despite facing a bout of strep throat before the semi-final, she battled through on antibiotics and still secured a spot in the final with a powerful rendition of Demi Lovato’s “Anyone”.
