Australia's Got Talent (season 8)


Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television show, based on the original UK series, to find new talent. Nine announced that the show would be returning in 2016 for an eighth season. It is the second season to air on Nine after it was axed in 2013. Auditions are open for September and October 2015. On 28 October 2015, it was announced that Kyle Sandilands Geri Halliwell, Dawn French and Timomatic have been replaced with a new panel of judges, they are Ian "Dicko" Dickson, Sophie Monk, Kelly Osbourne and Eddie Perfect. Julia Morris did not return as host as she is committed to another show and was replaced by Dave Hughes as the host. For the first time, this season introduced the Golden Buzzer. The season premiered on 1 February 2016.

Changes

Golden Buzzer

This series saw the introduction of the new golden buzzer. During the auditions, as well as the standard buzzers, there was a golden buzzer placed in the centre of the judges' desk. Each judge was allowed to press this buzzer only once, and it would send that auditionee straight through to the live semi-finals regardless of the opinions of the other three judges.

Wildcard

This season will see the introduction of a viewer-voted Wildcard entry to send one lucky performer directly to the Grand Finale. Contestants who are not taken through to the semi-final by the celebrity judges can be voted back into the finals by viewers as Wildcards.

Semi-finalists

NameGenreActSemiPosition reached
Alysha JonesSingingOpera Singer1Semi-Finalist
Bosko & HoneySingingSinging Duo2Semi-Finalist
Callum The Heavy Metal KidSinging / MusicSinger/Guitarist4Finalist
CarterDanceDancer2Semi-Finalist
Chris TamowaySinging / MusicSinger/Musician5Runner-up
Erik The Dog VarietyRobot Dog Act3Finalist
EqualsDanceDance Crew4Finalist
Fletcher PilonSinging / MusicSinger/Guitarist5Winner
Gentlemen of DeceitMagicMagicians2Finalist
Irma & SiskoAnimalsDog Act4Semi-Finalist
Jan Van De StoolComedyComedian4Semi-Finalist
Jessie DaleyMagicMagician3Semi-Finalist
King SocialSingingBand3Runner-up
Matt McLarenSinging / MusicSinger/Pianist2Runner-up
Mick & Emma AcrobaticsAcrobatic Duo1Semi-Finalist
Minnie Cooper & the Tiny Teeny TappersSingingDrag Act5Semi-Finalist
NOASingingSinger/Rapper5Semi-Finalist
Pardeep KumarDanceDancer1Semi-Finalist
Phly CrewDanceDance Crew1Finalist
Raw & Rugged DanceDance TroupeN/AFinalist
Rothomatic – Australia's LED Robot DanceRobot Act5Semi-Finalist
ShowkoComedyVentriloquist3Semi-Finalist
Sister's DollSingingBand1Runner-up
Subih Brothers SingingBand4Semi-Finalist
Sukhjit Kaur KhalsaVarietySpoken Word Poet2Semi-Finalist
Suzie Jay & Joe AceSingingSinging Duo3Semi-Finalist
The Elliot SistersSingingSinging Trio2Semi-Finalist
The Henry TwinsDanceDance Duo3Semi-Finalist
The Shake ManDanceDancer4Semi-Finalist
TJ MusicDrummer5Semi-Finalist
Violeta BozanicSingingSinger/Pianist1Semi-Finalist

Semi-finals

The Semi-Finals started on 22 February. For the first time, the semi-finals aren't live. Two acts made it through to the grand final each week, and a wildcard was chosen for the final.

Semi-final 1

Semi-final 2

Semi-final 3

Semi-final 4

Semi-final 5

Finals

;Color key

Final – Top 11

The top 11, including the grand final wild card act, appeared in a grand final performance before the Grand Finale. An audience vote followed after the show and only 5 acts returned for the Grand Finale with new performances.
ActOrderPerformance descriptionResult
Equals1Dance CrewLost Public Vote
Callum The Heavy Metal Kid2Singer/GuitaristLost Public Vote
King Social3BandAdvanced to Grand Finale
Gentlemen of Deceit4MagiciansLost Public Vote
Matt McLaren5SingerAdvanced to Grand Finale
Raw & Rugged6Dance TroupeLost Public Vote
Erik The Dog7Robot Dog ActLost Public Vote
Chris Tamwoy8Singer/MusicianAdvanced to Grand Finale
Phly Crew9Dance CrewLost Public Vote
Fletcher Pilon10Singer/GuitaristAdvanced to Grand Finale
Sisters Doll11BandAdvanced to Grand Finale

Grand Finale – Top 5

For the first time in series 8, the Grand Finale aired Live and the winner was decided by the viewers, not the judges. Magician/illusionist AGT Alumni Cosentino had a performance and actor Jack Black was a guest judge. The winner received $250,000. Fletcher Pilon was announced as the winner.
ActOrderAge/
State
Act descriptionPlace Result
Chris Tamwoy120, QLDSinger/
Musician
Runners-up
King Social229–53, QLDBandRunners-up
Matt McLaren327, NSWSinger/PianistRunners-up
Sisters Doll418–23, VICBandRunners-up
Fletcher Pilon514, NSWSinger/
Guitarist
Winner

Ratings