After winning hearts on Britain’s Got Talent with his unique mix of magic and music, 16-year-old Rafferty Coope has revealed what life looks like after his unforgettable journey on the show.
The Winchester teenager became one of the standout contestants of the latest season after receiving a Golden Buzzer from judge KSI for his emotional performance combining magic, piano and his love for music. His act helped him reach the finals, where he finished fifth overall, an achievement he described as something he still struggles to believe.
Speaking on Heart Breakfast, Rafferty opened up about how much the experience changed his life and what came next after BGT.
“I never thought anything would ever come after BGT,” Rafferty admitted. “I went into it literally expecting this is just going to be a really amazing experience.”
The young magician explained that his passion for both magic and music inspired his BGT performance. Rather than choosing one talent, he wanted to create something that represented who he was.
“I’m a magician and I absolutely love magic. But the other thing that I love is music. They’re two of my biggest passions in life,” he said. “So instead of just doing magic or just doing music, I intertwined them and gave a performance that really shows my personality.”
Rafferty said the reaction to his audition was beyond anything he imagined, especially after receiving the Golden Buzzer and making it all the way through the competition.
“I never thought one Golden Buzzer and then to even go through the whole process and come fifth literally just blows my mind,” he shared.
Growing up watching Britain’s Got Talent, Rafferty said performing on the same stage as the judges he had seen on television for years felt surreal.
“I grew up watching the show. So getting to stand on that stage and see the judges right there was amazing. It did not feel real because I was watching them on TV since I was young,” he said.
Now, after his BGT journey has ended, Rafferty is stepping into a brand-new opportunity that combines his love for magic and performing.
The teenager has joined the cast of Now You See Me Live, a live magic show inspired by the popular Now You See Me movie franchise. The production will arrive at the London Coliseum at the end of July.
Rafferty revealed that he was actually planning to buy tickets to see the show before receiving an unexpected call after Britain’s Got Talent.
“They said we would love to have you in the cast if you’re up for it, and I was like, let me just think about it,” he joked. “I have never said yes to anything more in my life.”
For Rafferty, performing at the London Coliseum is a dream opportunity.
“It is my dream theatre, favourite theatre in the whole world. London Coliseum, biggest theatre in London,” he said.
Although live magic comes with pressure because anything can go wrong, Rafferty said that unpredictability is what makes performing exciting.
“That’s the fun of it,” he explained. “I just love how five minutes of my time doing what I love can end up sticking with someone a lot longer.”
The teenager also reflected on how Britain’s Got Talent inspired him to start his own magic journey when he was younger. He hopes his performances can inspire other children to explore their own passions.
“If I can get anyone just to pick up that pack of cards or get into music, it’s just an amazing feeling,” he said.
Before appearing on BGT, Rafferty was already building his skills as a performer. He was a former chorister at Winchester Cathedral, attended The Pilgrims’ School, and later studied at Peter Symonds College. He also previously won his school’s own talent competition, Pilgrims’ Got Talent, with his magic act.
His BGT performance featured a creative combination of card tricks and music, including using playing cards to reveal the notes of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” before playing the song on piano.
Judge Simon Cowell praised his talent and stage presence, saying his “showmanship is spectacular” and calling the performance “seriously spectacular.”
Now, as Rafferty moves beyond Britain’s Got Talent, the young magician is continuing to chase his dream of sharing magic and music with bigger audiences.