Jai McDowall first rocketed to fame in 2011 when he auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. He impressed all four judges with his rendition of Anthem and went on to win the series.

Thirteen years on and Jai has a successful singing career and looks completely unrecognisable. In 2022, Jai revealed he now feels more confident than ever after undergoing surgery to fix complications from a broken nose.

The Scottish singer suffered a deviated septum after stepping in to break up a fight at the bar, and it was affecting his singing. However some fans were sceptical about that and so Jai set the story straight with a video from his hospital bed back in 2017.

BGT fans stunned by 2011 winner Jai McDowell's transformation
BGT fans stunned by 2011 winner Jai McDowell's transformation

Jai recorded himself and said: “The amount of times I’ve been asked if I have a cocaine habit and that’s why I have a deviated septum in the first place has been unreal.

“I don’t have a cocaine habit, just in case anyone is wondering.”

After his surgery, Jai told the Daily Star: “It was a really nice procedure. Obviously, I had black eyes for about three weeks and big bandages and stuff, but it was worth it."

Since his BGT win Jai has had a nose job and joined G4
Since his BGT win Jai has had a nose job and joined G4

More recently, Jai spoke to The Sun and revealed his financial struggles after leaving BGT and being dropped by Sony - all of which left him contemplating bankruptcy.

Jai said: “I didn’t do it because, thankfully, I’ve got a brilliant support network. But I did get to a point where I was like, ‘Is this it, is this over?’

“I moved in with my parents at the time. I did have property but I had no money. That took a long time and a lot of grit and determination for me to get back out of that.”

Editorial use only. No book publishing. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/REX/Shutterstock (1335899iy) Ant and Dec [Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly] with Jai McDowall 'Britain's Got Talent Final' TV Programme, London, Britain - 04 Jun 2011
Jai McDowall during the Britain's Got Talent Final

Britain’s Got Talent continues on Saturday 18 May with more hopefuls auditioning in front of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli.

During the last episode, fans were left fuming when Amanda pressed the Golden Buzzer for impressionist, Nabe.

Amanda reasoned: "Normally when I press my Golden Buzzer I am in floods of tears and can't speak. This made me howl. I laughed my head off and have never seen anything like it."

Amanda first pressed the Golden Buzzer during the very first show of the series for singer Sydnie Christmas, but she also received some backlash. The 28 year old singer amazed the judges with her rendition of Tomorrow from Annie. Amanda was mesmerised by Sydnie and delivered a Golden Buzzer leaving the singer in tears.