Comedian Kojo Anim Gets BGT Golden Buzzer From Simon Cowell: ‘The Best Is Yet to Come’

Getty Images | Jeff Spicer

“I’ve spent 20 years helping other comedians ... now it’s my turn,” said Ghanaian comedian Kojo Anim, speaking to Mail Online. The 39-year-old has just won Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell’s approval in the form of the highly coveted golden buzzer, and he’s still reeling.

Kojo wowed the crowds on Saturday, April 13, 2019, with a side-splitting, self-written routine, and he thoroughly deserved the accolade. The comedian has spent decades opening for comic acts such as Kevin Hart and Chris Rock, and helping numerous others to curate their sets and crack the comedy circuit through his club, Kojo’s Comedy Fun House.

“I didn’t even dream what would happen, happened,” Kojo told Mail Online. “It was Tiffany, my fiancee, who encouraged me to audition. She reminds me of that!” The comedian has a young son and fiancee, the latter of whom was cheering him on from the stands during Saturday’s epic performance. Emotions ran high.

“My career flew in front of my eyes,” Kojo shared, describing the moment that Simon pushed the golden buzzer and catapulted him straight through to the semi-finals. “It was a huge risk,” he continued. “I was afraid of being judged.” But the cheering of the crowds and the formidable sight of an arena-scale standing ovation brought the reality home to Kojo. His courage of conviction soared.

“This is what I’ve been doing for years,” he said. “I want the world to see!”

The new dad admitted to a heavy dose of nerves before the show. “It’s a massive show,” he opened up, “but I love performing live ... BGT gives me the opportunity to do what I do to a wide audience.“ His family provides the biggest motivation. ”I am a dad now,“ Kojo continued. ”I want to provide for my son and give him the best opportunities in life.”

As a solo performer, Kojo claimed that he was happy to support others during their initial, tentative foray into the comedy circuit. But as a family man, his priorities have changed. “I want to do this for them,” he said.

As Kojo took to the stage on Saturday, April 13, the audience, the judges, and without a doubt the viewers at home were reduced to peals of delighted laughter. This man is funny! Kojo joked boldly about his African heritage and the very relatable subjects of sky-high taxi fares and queuing at the bank.

It was observational comedy at its finest.

“I'd pay money to see this man,” judge Amanda Holden said, kicking off the judges’ feedback. “You are brilliantly likeable,” David Walliams added. Then came Simon Cowell’s turn. “I’m going to be honest with you, Kojo,” he began, as the audience collectively braced themselves. “I don’t really like comedians on this show.”

“But ... I love you!” Simon exclaimed, as he reached across and hit the golden buzzer that would change Kojo’s life forever.

The utterly shell-shocked comedian was moved to tears by the arena’s response to his performance, and fell to the ground as the golden confetti rained down. “The best is yet to come,” he promised, in a reaction video posted on Facebook after the show.

“The best is yet to come!”