ASCOT magician Jamie Raven, a runner-up in Britain’s Got Talent, insists dog trainer Jules O’Dwyer is still a deserving winner even after it was revealed she replaced her dog with a lookalike 'stunt double’ in her act.

Jamie missed out on top spot in the hit ITV show to Ms O’Dwyer and her performing border collie Matisse in Sunday night’s final.

And there has been an outcry from viewers who claim he was robbed of the £250,000 first prize because it was stunt dog Chase who actually walked a tightrope in the final trick.

The 31-year-old magician, though, dismissed the controversy, saying it makes no difference which dog was used.

He said: “She tells the dogs what to do and they do it. She has more than one dog that she trains and everyone saw them in the show. I don’t begrudge her the win at all.

“I’m a magician. I’m in the least suitable place to judge someone for being underhand or tricking anyone on stage. I don’t feel cheated or upset.” Jamie gained more than 30 per cent of the public vote on Sunday night in the most watched TV show of the year so far with 13.4 million people tuning in.

He has no intention of performing a disappearing act after coming second and is determined to build on his new-found fame after storming through the auditions and semi-finals with his tricks and wizardry with a pack of cards.

He said: “I have a few ideas for a totally new format for magic on TV, which I can’t say much about, but it’s really exciting.” There are also plans for Jamie, originally from Hammersmith, to take his show on a national tour.

Despite being just pipped to the top spot he says his experience on the show was 'incredible’.

He said: “To get through to the final was incredible, of course you want to win, but all of the contestants were like a family and really supportive of each other. Jules did fantastically well.

“Everyone on the show was the same, we are all just chasing a dream.” Jamie said: “I just love performing to live crowds. Magic is really something that has to be seen live.

“I want to encourage anyone in my profession to get involved. People say the job of anybody in the profession is to leave it in a better way than you found it, and if I can boost magicians or change the scene for future generations then I’ll have done well.” ASCOT magician Jamie Raven, a runner-up in Britain’s Got Talent, insists dog trainer Jules O’Dwyer is still a deserving winner even after it was revealed she replaced her dog with a lookalike 'stunt double’ in her act.

Jamie missed out on top spot in the hit ITV show to Ms O’Dwyer and her performing border collie Matisse in Sunday night’s final.

And there has been an outcry from viewers who claim he was robbed of the £250,000 first prize because it was stunt dog Chase who actually walked a tightrope in the final trick.

The 31-year-old magician, though, dismissed the controversy, saying it makes no difference which dog was used.

He said: “She tells the dogs what to do and they do it. She has more than one dog that she trains and everyone saw them in the show. I don’t begrudge her the win at all.

“I’m a magician. I’m in the least suitable place to judge someone for being underhand or tricking anyone on stage. I don’t feel cheated or upset.” Jamie gained more than 30 per cent of the public vote on Sunday night in the most watched TV show of the year so far with 13.4 million people tuning in.

He has no intention of performing a disappearing act after coming second and is determined to build on his new-found fame after storming through the auditions and semi-finals with his tricks and wizardry with a pack of cards.

He said: “I have a few ideas for a totally new format for magic on TV, which I can’t say much about, but it’s really exciting.” There are also plans for Jamie, originally from Hammersmith, to take his show on a national tour.

Despite being just pipped to the top spot he says his experience on the show was 'incredible’.

He said: “To get through to the final was incredible, of course you want to win, but all of the contestants were like a family and really supportive of each other. Jules did fantastically well.

“Everyone on the show was the same, we are all just chasing a dream.” Jamie said: “I just love performing to live crowds. Magic is really something that has to be seen live.

“I want to encourage anyone in my profession to get involved. People say the job of anybody in the profession is to leave it in a better way than you found it, and if I can boost magicians or change the scene for future generations then I’ll have done well.”