Although there have been many amazing performances on the Britain’s Got Talent stage, one act in particular stood out during the 2018 auditions in a way that affected the judges and the audience. The season’s first Golden Buzzer was given by magician Marc Spelmann, who has a fantastic narrative.

From the moment Marc took the stage, he exuded composed assurance. He set out to show that magic is about soul-stirring moments rather than just tricks using a deck of cards, a few simple props, and an emotional story.

He started his performance by asking the judges to make random decisions, such as choosing words from a book, picking a crayon, or shuffle a deck of cards, which seemed like a common mind-reading gimmick. But the real magic had not yet come.

Marc played a video from two years ago, taken during a very private time in his life, as he presented each choice. His wife and their baby daughter, Isabella, were shown in the film foretelling each judge’s decision. The audience was struck by the realization that Marc was sharing his tale of love, tenacity, and hope rather than just performing magic.

He broke the news, crying, that his wife had fought cancer during her pregnancy and that she and their daughter had survived despite all the odds. His talk was about the real magic of love, family, and miracles, and it was more than just an illusion.

Ant and Dec, understandably upset, smashed the Golden Buzzer, sending Marc to the semi-finals while the judges were stunned by the last surprise. He received a well-earned standing ovation from the audience, which erupted in cheers.

“That was the most incredible, moving piece of magic I’ve ever seen,” said Simon Cowell, who is typically the hardest to please, wiping his eyes. You are an intelligent wizard, sir.

One of the most memorable episodes in Britain’s Got Talent history was Marc Spelmann’s audition, which showed that sometimes the most powerful magic isn’t just about tricks but also about the emotions that last long after the performance.