The Wiccan Horned God is a deity worshipped in the modern neopagan religion of Wicca. He is often depicted as a masculine figure with horns on his head, representing his association with nature, fertility, and the cycle of life. The Horned God is often viewed as a symbol of virility, strength, and the wild aspects of nature. In Wiccan beliefs, the Horned God is seen as a counterpart to the Goddess. He represents the male energy in the universe, while the Goddess represents the female energy. Together, they form a balanced and harmonious duality.
Dad who conjured up media frenzy playing BGT's the Witch 'kicking himself' for staying anonymous as he 'missed fame'
A dad who conjured up a media frenzy on Britain's Got Talent playing The Witch admits he is 'kicking himself' for staying anonymous - as he was unable to lap up the fame others did. Martin Portlock both horrified and delighted audiences with his super-creepy performances that famously had judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon squealing and fleeing their seats.
One famous appearance saw him ask Amanda to put her hand into a box with a rat inside it after one of her biggest fears was revealed to be rodents. The dad-of-two was forced to step into the shoes of a previous performer who was unable to continue the role in the 2022 semi-final and also returned for the show's 'Ultimate Magician' series.
Despite being no stranger to performing, the 41-year-old actor was forced to roll up his sleeves and go through magician training to ensure he was up to scratch too. In addition to his gruelling magical training, Martin had to endure four hours in the make-up chair having prosthetics fitted - and another hour peeling them off when it was over.
One famous appearance saw him ask Amanda to put her hand into a box with a rat inside it after one of her biggest fears was revealed to be rodents (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
To further add to the mystique of the character, Martin chose to hide his true identity - a decision he ultimately came to regret and says he 'punched himself' over the move. He also offered some advice to terrified judge Amanda Holden - urging her to 'know her fears'.
Martin, from Ellesmere, Shropshire, said: "I didn't want to say who I was as it takes something away from the performance, it takes the magic away. I had to bite my tongue for quite a while as all the shows were going on. That was kind of a personal choice because it added energy to the Witch and the character and the mystery.
"But at the same time, it was horrible because you see all of these contestants coming through and they get that recognition. Acting is a hard profession, especially when it comes to recognition.
"When I was backstage I was punching myself thinking 'what am I doing? No-one knows who I am. What's the point of doing this?' I had to bite my tongue for quite a while as all the shows were going on."
Despite being unable to lap up the media attention, Martin did disclose to close friends and family that he was the man behind the prosthetic mask. Martin said: "I had close friends and family that knew I was doing it – people that I knew I could trust. They're your rocks.
"But I did have a lot of friends who I couldn't tell that I was doing it because friends tell friends. I had to be very tight-lipped about it."
Hiding his identity wasn't the only hardship Martin was facing while on the show, he and his partner also endured several 'life struggles' at the same time. Martin said: "While I was doing The Witch we were struggling with IVF and had several life struggles, including the loss of a family member, so that was another emotional challenge to go through while I was trying to do this immense stage show.
"Just before you walk onto stage, you have to put all of that emotion and everything you're struggling with into a box and leave it on the side of the stage, and then walk out and just be that character."
The brains behind The Witch were Shaune and Paula Harrison from The Prosthetics Studio, who have done the prosthetics for huge film franchises such as Harry Potter and Star Wars. Shaune and Paula reached out to Martin to play The Witch after the original actor, who doesn't want to share their identity, couldn't continue playing the role.
Martin said: "They explained to me that the person who did the original Witch in the audition couldn't continue to do it. So they were stuck. They got the four yeses and they got through to the semi-final, so they asked me to do it and I was just like, wow, this is big news."
The judges were branded 'wonderful' by Martin, with special praise given to Amanda for fearfully taking part in his spooky routine. Martin said: "Amanda's an absolutely fantastic sport and Alesha was wonderful. In fact, they were all wonderful.
"All I would say to Amanda is 'know your fears darling, and grow stronger from them'."
BGT star 'nearly died' backstage in unaired clip and says he was 'almost strangled'
Britain’s Got Talent’s infamous contestant The Witch has revealed he almost died while backstage but it was never shown on TV.
Actor Martin Portlock recently declared that he was the man behind the scary costume, over a year after appearing on the hit ITV show.
Martin also revived his petrifying yet popular character for the spin-off, Britain’s Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician, which aired last year December.
However, Martin claims that during the spin-off show he came face to face with death when he tried to handle a snake backstage.
Actor Martin Portlock claimed he almost died backstage (Image: ITV)Read More
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He told The Sun: "One thing you didn’t see on TV was that I nearly died.
"I did this performance where a snake comes out of this teddy bear, and when I was backstage, I tried to handle the snake, who was called Kevin, for the first time.
"Now, I'm not an animal handler, and this thing came up to me and it absolutely loved the heat of my neck. The next thing I know, this massive snake coiled itself right around my neck and went so tight, I was almost strangled."
Martin, 41, took on the role for the BGT semi-finals after the original actor- who still chooses to remain anonymous - pulled out after the audition.
Martin took on the role after the original actor pulled out (Image: ITV)The star also went on to reveal that keeping his identity a secret became a huge task and only a few producers knew who he really was.
After Martin's first appearance on the show, many fans speculated who could be behind the garish costume with many attaching famous faces such as Stephen Mulhern or Keith Lemon to the character.
Martin confirmed that he took on the role of the character on Instagram earlier this month.
Martin left viewers terrified on the show (Image: Dymond/Thames/REX/Shutterstock)He wrote: "Feel free to share. It's no longer a secret. So… one year ago today I performed on stage for television. Although it's been a bit of a secret for the past year, my identity as 'The Witch' was unknown!
"I can now confirm that The Witch on Britain's Got Talent 2022 WAS ME! I am an actor here in the U.K.
"I performed in front of 4000 people at the London, Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, live on national television for ITV in the semi-finals and again in Manchester as the finale for the Christmas special 'The Ultimate Magician'. I hope you all liked the performances."
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Britain's Got Talent's The Witch's identity finally revealed a year after show
One year on since terrifying the Britain's Got Talent judges, the true identity of The Witch has finally been revealed to viewers.
The act reached the semi-finals of the show's 15th series in 2022 and captivated not only viewers but also Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.
And the real person behind the scary mask has now been revealed by magician Marc Spellman. Dubbed as the 'scariest act ever', Marc, who has also appeared on the show, explained on YouTube that it was an "incredible actor called Martin Portlock."
When asked why Martin couldn't revealed it was him in the costume until now, Marc continued: "He [Martin] was sworn to secrecy too, he couldn't tell anybody that he was the witch."
Magician Marc Spellman revealed the identity of The Witch (Image: YOUTUBE)Read More
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Later on in the YouTube video Martin himself then popped up on screen, and said: "Hi Marc, how you doing Spellman? Although the Witch was a bit of an unusual character, no one really knew who it was."
"I hear that everyone thought it was you! I hope you and the family are well on that side and the beautiful heat, it's a bit too hot for my liking."
Marc then replied with huge praise for the act: "I really think Martin deserves huge credit and recognition for being such an iconic character as the witch on Britain's Got Talent.
The Witch terrified both the judges and viewers"A character that we will never forget and I don't think Amanda will ever forget either. Apparently she's still in therapy."
BGT fans will also remember that there was speculation that it was actually Marc behind The Witch costume as he appeared on the show with prosthetics in 2018 and later as act 'X' in 2019.
One viewer tweeted: "Anyone else think the Witch is Marc Spelmann? It could be his third attempt at BGT."
Fans had theories on who was behind the mask (Image: ITV)But other viewers had their own theories and guessed it was a famous face behind the mask, with speculation including television presenter Stephen Mulhern or comedian Keith Lemon.
However, other viewers were convinced The Witch was BGT host Declan Donnelly and one posted: "Deffo him, the eyes are exactly the same."
While another commented: "I said it straight away and obviously the creepy crawlies from the apples represent I'm a Celebrity. Get Me Out Of Here!"
Together, they form a balanced and harmonious duality. The Horned God is sometimes referred to by different names, such as Cernunnos, Pan, or Herne, depending on the specific Wiccan tradition. The Horned God is often associated with the wilderness, animals, and the changing seasons.
He is often depicted as a hunter or a guardian of the forest. He is also seen as a protector and guide for those who follow the Wiccan path. In Wiccan rituals, the Horned God is often honored and invoked. He is called upon to provide strength, courage, and protection, especially during times of transition or challenge. The Horned God is also seen as a source of wisdom and guidance, offering spiritual insights and direction to those who seek it. Overall, the Wiccan Horned God is a central figure in the practice of Wicca. He represents the masculine energy and the untamed aspects of nature. Through his presence, Wiccans seek to connect with the wild and primal forces of the universe, finding balance and harmony in their spiritual journey..
Reviews for "The Horned God and the Shadows: Working with Dark Energies in Wiccan Witchcraft"
1. Hannah - 1/5 stars - The "Wicvan Horned God" was a huge disappointment for me. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters felt flat and uninspiring. I was expecting a captivating and mystical story, but instead, I found myself struggling to finish the book. The writing style was dull, lacking any kind of creativity or depth. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Wiccan beliefs. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and magical reading experience.
2. John - 2/5 stars - As someone interested in Wiccan traditions, I was excited to read "Wicvan Horned God". However, I was left underwhelmed by the execution. While the book attempted to explore the mythology and symbolism associated with the Horned God, it fell short in delivering a captivating narrative. The pacing was slow, and the characters felt one-dimensional. Additionally, the author relied heavily on stereotypes and clichéd plot devices, which hindered any true connection with the story. Overall, I felt this book failed to do justice to the rich and complex beliefs it aimed to depict.
3. Emily - 2.5/5 stars - I found "Wicvan Horned God" to be an average read at best. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. The writing lacked finesse and often felt disjointed. The characters were difficult to connect with, and their motivations felt contrived. The pacing was inconsistent, with moments of slow-moving scenes interspersed with rushed plot developments. The portrayal of Wiccan beliefs was superficial, lacking depth and true understanding. While there were some redeeming moments, overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to those seeking a well-crafted and immersive story.