‘Britain’s Got Talent’ winners Jules & Matisse "misled" viewers with the use of a stunt double.
Broadcasting regulators Ofcom – who received over 1,000 complaints after viewers discovered a stunt double dog was used in the live final – have found the ITV talent show in breach of one of their codes for leading fans to believe it was Matisse who had walked a tight rope instead of another dog named Chase.
Ofcom’s rule 2.14 states that broadcasters must make sure viewers are not "materially misled" about any competition or voting.
However, ITV has since released a statement insisting they didn’t "intend to mislead viewers" and will refund those who paid to vote for Jules O’Dwyer and her dog Matisse to win the competition.
The statement reads: "The ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ production team apologised at the time for not making it clearer to the judges and viewers at home that three dogs were involved in the final performance.
"There was never any intention to mislead viewers and in their decision Ofcom said they ‘have no reason to believe that there was any intention to deceive viewers that the tightrope walk actually involved a second dog’.
"The majority of votes cast for Jules’ act were received through the free voting app.
"However, we accept that some viewers who voted for the winning act by a paid voting route may wish to seek a refund, or that the cost of their vote be donated in full to the Royal Variety charity.
"Details about how to obtain a refund, or to request that a refund be donated to the charity, are now on our website."
Jules and Matisse misled Britain’s Got Talent viewers
