Huge career boost for freestyle rapper

British comedian Chris Turner’s freestyle rapping has secured him second place in this year’s America’s Got Talent.

Singer Jessica Sanchez – who had previously competed in the first season when she was a child – was announced as the winner of the $1million prize for the 20th season on NBC last night.

Following his performance in the final on Tuesday, Mel B told him: ‘I’ve never seen such raw talent in such a humble guy. You owned that  stage. You are absolutely freaking brilliant.'

And fellow judge Sofía Vergara said: ‘Everything you have done on that stage was genius.’

In a package of videos of his performances on the show, Turner said: ‘I took the biggest risk of my career and it paid off. This experience has been one of the most incredible feelings of my life.’

Here’s the moment Sanchez was crowned winner following a viewer vote:

Turner is the most successful Brit on the show since comedy ventriloquist Paul Zerdin won in 2015, the same year Piff The Magic Dragon made the final.

And here's Turner's performance in the final:

Now based in New York, Turner cut his teeth on the UK comedy circuit where he was a finalist in  So You Think You're Funny 2010 and the BBC New Comedy Awards 2011. He was also a competitor in the 2011 Chortle Student Comedy Awards. 

In 2014, his debut Pretty Fly won the Amused Moose People's Choice award for best show at the Edinburgh Fringe, and he has returned to the festival almost every year since. 

In the US, he became one of the first comedians to ever perform a Las Vegas residency with Cirque Du Soleil, has appeared on The Late ​Show with Stephen Colbert and has racked up more than 100 million views online for his  improvisational raps, many filmed at Manhattan’s Comedy Cellar, where he is a regular.

Published: 25 Sep 2025