The Witches, written by Roald Dahl, is a captivating and enthralling tale that takes readers on a journey through the eerie and mysterious world of witches. The story revolves around a young boy, who remains unnamed throughout, and his encounter with a group of witches while on vacation with his grandmother. Dahl masterfully paints a vivid picture of these witches, highlighting their grotesque and terrifying features. He describes them as having bald heads, with only patches of hair remaining, and a distinctive lack of toes that they hide by wearing square-toed shoes. These witches are not like the ones depicted in fairy tales – they are cunning, ruthless, and have an insatiable desire to eradicate children from the face of the Earth. The boy and his grandmother, after discovering the witches' grand plan at a witch convention, work together to try and thwart their evil intentions.

Britain’s Got Talent star The Witch breaks silence as identity is finally revealed

Britain's Got Talent viewers (and Amanda Holden) were terrified last year by contestant The Witch, who made it to the semi-finals and also competed in The Ultimate Magician festive special.

The identity of the creepy contestant has been a source of debate ever since the initial audition, with plenty of people believing them to be Marc Spelmann, who has competed in multiple Got Talent series, one time reaching second place as the mysterious X.

In a video on YouTube posted this week, Spelmann revealed that it wasn't him and was actually the actor Martin Portlock, who appeared in last year's supernatural comedy Wolf Manor.

Only that's not the entire story. Spelmann's video led to a lot of reporting that Portlock was The Witch, but as it turns out, he was one of two (in the show itself, the second Witch did state that they were another member of the same coven, but you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a ruse to create more mystery).

In an Instagram video, Portlock explained that: "In the stage performances for The Witch, there were two Witches. There was one that did the audition, with the apple trick, that wasn't me. That was somebody else.

"I did the semi-finals, and then I did the magic special, which was breathtaking. Words can't describe how much fun that was, and what a privilege it was to perform for everyone.

"I was The Witch that did those acts, I am not The Witch that did the very very first one. That individual deserves the credit for that performance."

Obviously, that led to people asking Portlock to reveal who the first Witch was, which led him to add a comment stating: "All I can divulge about the first witch is that the actor wishes to remain anonymous.

"People generally assume that we were celebrities, although the fact of the matter is that we are just actors working in the industry. Even if people found out the name they would still have no clue as to who we are. But I do know who it was. I’m afraid that’s all I can say."

His caption further explained that there was a whole team behind the character and performances, and he praised the prosthetic artists, props department and the magic consultant who all worked together to create the terror.

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The Witches

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The Witches are a magician and horror act who reached the Semi-Finals of Series 15 of Britain's Got Talent.

Before their performance a spooky atmosphere was shown, as initial The Witch's face kept popping up at the front of the screen, before doing the same on the screen at the back of the stage. To begin their audition the initial Witch stated 'Between the light and the dark, between the good and the evil, which will you choose'.

In their audition, they presented a bag of apples to the Judges. David and Alesha were asked to take an apple and bite into it; both were good apples. Amanda was then given two apples, with Simon choosing which one she should eat. The Witch then rhetorically questioned 'Do you know why they say beauty is only skin deep?', before going on to state 'because we're all rotten to the core' before going on to crush the apple that Amanda did not eat, revealing it to be filled with maggots. The Witch then left the bag of apples on the Judges Desk before walking back onto the stage and seemingly disappearing. Alesha commented 'I thought the act was actually brilliant', with David going on to describe the act as 'stunning'. Following the performance, The Witch's face began to briefly flicker on Simon's buzzer above the stage.

In the Semi-Finals, The Witch had another member of their Coven appear and perform upon their behalf. This secondary Witch began their performance by remarking 'In this whole wide world, the only thing you need to be afraid of is me. Because I have the power to conjure your deepest darkest fears you see'. This secondary Witch tasked Amanda with removing a premonition from within a box which stated it would provide a 'look into the future of choices made, but which will you choose'. The secondary Witch then tasked every judge with removing a fear from a bag, with David's fear being Tape Worm, Alesha's fear being Earwig, Simon's fear being Maggots and Amanda's fear being Rodents. This secondary Witch then tasked Amanda with once again reaching into the box, which now contained a Rat. This prompted both Amanda & Alesha to temporarily leave the Judges Desk as this secondary Witch questioned 'What's the matter Amanda, rat got your tongue?', before this secondary Witch was lowered down beneath the stage and seemingly disappeared.

The boy and his grandmother, after discovering the witches' grand plan at a witch convention, work together to try and thwart their evil intentions. Dahl cleverly juxtaposes the seemingly harmless exterior of the grandmother with her knowledge and understanding of witches, making her an unexpected hero in the story. The boy, transformed into a mouse by the witches, proves to be a bold and resourceful ally in their battle against the witches.

After BGT [ ]

They were one of ten magicians to perform upon The Ultimate Magician. To begin their performance they asked Penn to pick a word and not reveal this word to anyone and instead simply nod. They then asked David, Penn and Alesha to choose a colour that represented a number (David chose Red which represented #3, Penn chose Purple which represented #1, and Alesha chose Yellow which represented #4). They then had Alesha read a storybook wherein each judge was given an object with David’s being a bowl of rotten fruit, Alesha’s being a jack in the box, Amanda’s being a teddy bear and Penn’s being a snow globe. They then asked Penn what his word was before he revealed it was ‘chaos’ which saw a live snake released from within the teddy bear and a woman in a red jacket on stage revealed to have become another member of the witches’ coven. Alesha remarked ‘It always puts on an amazing show [and] we get sucked in’, with Penn adding 'There's something just wonderful about all of the creativity behind this [act]'. They ultimately placed 3rd overall in the studio audience vote.

In July 2023, the actor behind one of the two Witches came forward and revealed themselves as Martin Portlock, with Portlock stating that he performed in the Semi-Finals and The Ultimate Magician, however another actor who wished to remain anonymous played the first witch from same coven who performed during the audition. [1]

Throughout the narrative, Dahl's writing style is infused with his signature dark humor and wit. He skillfully weaves comedic elements into the story, providing moments of levity that counterbalance the more sinister aspects of the plot. This unique blend of humor and horror is what sets The Witches apart from other children's books of its time. Beyond its entertaining storyline and colorful characters, The Witches also offers poignant lessons about the power of friendship, bravery, and the ability to overcome adversity. It reminds readers that even in the face of grave danger, one can find strength within themselves and the support of loved ones. In summary, The Witches is a spellbinding tale that combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and humor to create a truly captivating reading experience. Roald Dahl's imaginative storytelling and timeless themes continue to enchant readers of all ages, making The Witches a beloved classic in children's literature..

Reviews for "The Witches AGT: Female Leaders in the World of Witchcraft"

1. John - 2/5 stars

I was really disappointed with "The Witches Agt." The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The acting was also subpar, with many of the actors delivering their lines in a wooden and unnatural manner. Additionally, the special effects were lackluster and took away from the overall viewing experience. Overall, I found "The Witches Agt." to be a forgettable and underwhelming film.

2. Sarah - 1/5 stars

"The Witches Agt." was a major letdown. The story lacked depth and the script was poorly written, leaving the dialogue feeling forced and awkward. The pacing of the film was also off, with slow and unnecessary scenes dragging on while important plot points were rushed through. The visual effects were unimpressive and looked like they were done on a tight budget. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this disappointing film.

3. Mike - 2/5 stars

I had high hopes for "The Witches Agt." but unfortunately, it fell short. The plot felt cliché and predictable, leaving little room for surprises or suspense. The performances were lackluster, with the lead actress failing to bring any depth or emotion to her character. The supporting cast was also forgettable, with underdeveloped roles that added little value to the story. While the concept had potential, the execution was lacking, resulting in a mediocre film that failed to captivate my interest.

The Witches AGT: An Exploration of Modern Witchcraft Movements