A Father and Son Step Onto the BGT Stage
Some talent-show auditions stand out because of extraordinary technical ability. Others become memorable because the performers share something personal with the audience.
Jack and Tim Goodacre’s 2018 audition on Britain’s Got Talent belonged to the second kind.
The father-and-son duo walked onto the BGT stage with guitars and performed an original song called “The Lucky Ones.” Their performance quickly became one of the memorable auditions from the show’s 12th series.
Most importantly, the audition ended with one of the biggest moments a contestant can receive on Britain’s Got Talent: Simon Cowell pressed the Golden Buzzer.
Who Are Jack and Tim Goodacre?
Jack and Tim are a father-and-son musical duo from England.
At the time of their 2018 audition, Tim was 43 and Jack was 12. The pair were associated with Norwich, although they originally came from Boston, Lincolnshire.
Music was already an important part of their lives. Jack had experience performing before appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, while Tim had experience writing and producing music.
Their BGT appearance gave them an opportunity to perform together on one of Britain’s biggest talent-show stages.
For Jack, performing alongside his father was particularly meaningful. The duo were not simply presenting themselves as two individual musicians — they were sharing the stage as a family.
They Performed an Original Song Called “The Lucky Ones”
Rather than choosing a well-known cover, Jack and Tim performed their own song, “The Lucky Ones.”
The song focused on family and appreciating what they had. Tim described it as a father-and-son and family song, while Jack explained that it was about how lucky they were to have what they had.
That personal connection helped give the audition a different feel.
The performance was built around the two musicians playing together, creating a simple father-and-son setup rather than relying on a complicated production.
For viewers, the appeal was easy to understand: a father and his young son were standing together, playing music they had created themselves.
Simon Cowell Delivers the Golden Buzzer
The biggest surprise came after the performance.
Simon Cowell was impressed enough to give Jack and Tim his Golden Buzzer, sending them directly through to the live shows. ITV reported that Simon praised the performance before pressing the Golden Buzzer.
The Golden Buzzer immediately changed the duo’s journey on the competition.
Instead of having to continue through the standard progression of auditions, Jack and Tim were sent directly into the live-show stage of the competition.
For a father and son who had come onto the stage simply to perform together, it became a huge moment.
Their BGT Journey Continued Into the Live Shows
The Golden Buzzer was not the end of Jack and Tim’s Britain’s Got Talent story.
They returned for the semi-finals, where they performed another original song. ITV described them as Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer act and highlighted their return to the stage.
Jack and Tim then reached the 2018 grand final.
Their journey was especially notable because they progressed from an audition featuring an original father-and-son song to competing among the finalists of Series 12. ITV listed them among the 2018 grand finalists.
In the final voting, Jack & Tim received 6.2% of the final vote, according to ITV’s published voting figures.
They did not win the series, but reaching the final represented a significant achievement for the duo.
Why the Audition Still Stands Out
The appeal of Jack and Tim’s audition goes beyond the Golden Buzzer.
At its heart, the performance was about a father and son sharing a musical experience.
Their original song gave the audition a personal identity, while performing together made the moment feel different from a typical solo singing audition.
There was also a sense of authenticity in seeing the pair perform music connected to their relationship.
That combination — family, original music and a major Golden Buzzer moment — helped make their audition memorable for BGT viewers.
The official Britain’s Got Talent channel later described Jack and Tim as a father-and-son duo whose performance was part of Simon’s Golden Buzzer journey.
Final Thoughts
Jack and Tim Goodacre’s Britain’s Got Talent audition remains a memorable example of how a simple performance can create a major television moment.
The father-and-son duo performed their original song “The Lucky Ones,” shared the stage together, and ultimately received Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer. Their journey continued through the live shows and all the way to the 2018 grand final.
For fans of talent-show auditions, their performance is a reminder that some of the most memorable moments are not always about elaborate staging. Sometimes, a father, a son, two guitars and an original song are enough to create something special.
