It wouldn't be Britain's Got Talent without an on-air spat, and so it proved as Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden engaged in a lively dispute on Wednesday evening.
Head judge Cowell was playfully slapped by long-serving panelist Holden as they battled for bragging rights over the festively named singer Sydnie Christmas.
Both claimed her as their Gold Buzzer act during Wednesday's live-semi final at Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, prompting an indignant reaction from Holden - who originally gave Christmas a free pass to the latter stages of the competition in April.
With Cowell attempting to claim the 28-year old as his own act, his fellow judge snapped back: 'No, you wish she was yours.'
Despite co-host Ant McPartlin confirming she was indeed Holden's chosen Golden Buzzer act, the head judge stuck to his guns as she talked over him, prompting her to give him a playful slap on the shoulder.
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'She is absolutely phenomenal,' Holden said, waving him off. 'I don't know what she's singing, I want to be surprised. But I know she's going to smash it.'
Kent-based gym-worker Christmas sailed through to Sunday's final after stunning the judges with her version of Frank Sinatra's My Way.
She was joined by impressionist Mike Woodhams, with both now one performance away from winning a life-changing £250,000 cash prize and a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.
Holden, who was brought to tears, told her: 'I have to sit down, I thought I was going to pass out during that. Honestly, Sydnie when we saw your audition I had so many people come up and stop me.
'And tonight you have done even better, I just cannot believe your capacity and your fire and your strength.'
An equally impressed Bruno Tonioli added: 'I cannot believe it. The way she builds up to the high note, hitting it with such power and clarity. It was stunning, stunning.'
Alesha Dixon was in agreement, telling the singer: 'My heart was pounding the whole way through that. That is the job of a singer, you are a superstar in the making.'
While Cowell told her: 'It was just, it wasn't a 10, it was an 11 in my opinion. If it wasn't for people like you, I wouldn't bother making this show.
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'And you have to wonder who were these idiots you auditioned for that didn't give you the break before, they must be did. The only people you need to trust is the audience, the audience always get it right.'
Christmas won a standing ovation after performing her own version of Tomorrow from hit musical Annie - a song Cowell admitted to hating until her performance won him over - during her audition on April 20.
The performance left its mark on Holden, who instantly picked her as a Golden Buzzer act.
'What struck me so much about you is how naturally funny, how warm and how brilliant your presence was the moment you walked on the stage,' she told her.
'And tonight you have done even better, I just cannot believe your capacity and your fire and your strength.'
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