Britain's Got Talent final turn into the eggs factor: 13m watch shell-shocked as Simon Cowell is pelted by protester

More than 13 million people watched the Britain's Got Talent live final on Saturday night, which saw Simon Cowell get pelted with eggs by a suspected former reject, ITV said today.

The show, won by Hungarian shadow dance troupe Attraction, was watched by a peak audience of 13.1 million, with an average of 11.1 million viewers across the two-and-a-half show, the broadcaster said.

The viewers saw Natalie Holt, 30, a member of Welsh singing brothers Richard and Adam Johnson backing group, rush to the front of the stage during their performance and gave one of her own.

Holt, reportedly a musician who took part in the 2012 series without getting past the bootcamp stage, launched eggs at the judging panel made up of Cowell, comic David Walliams, singer Alesha Dixon and actress Amanda Holden, before being overpowered by security staff.

She later apologised, releasing a statement saying: "I want to apologise to Richard and Adam for overshadowing their performance.

"I've never done anything like this before and in hindsight I have realised it was a silly thing to do."

A BGT spokesman said that police were called because of her "misguided actions" but that no further action would be taken against her.

ITV today revealed that Attraction won with 27% of the public vote, ahead of runner up, teenage comic Jack Carroll, 14, who got 20.1% and Richard and Adam, who came third with 15.4% despite the interruption .

The The eight-strong Hungarian group, whose presence on a show supposedly highlighting native performers had led to criticism, won after a resolutely British-themed display, including Land Of Hope And Glory and the voice of Winston Churchill.

Their performance, against a backdrop that included the Union flag, the Olympic rings and the Queen, saw them beat disabled youngster Carroll, whose sharp routine poked fun at BGT's BBC rival The Voice, including talent judge Tom Jones, among other targets.

Judge Simon Cowell said afterwards that the result was "a bit of a surprise", adding: "It just shows that this country welcomes people from all over the world and they loved this act."

PA