Britain's Got Talent
Encyclopedia
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show
competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia
's TalkbackThames
and Simon Cowell
's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV
in Britain
and TV3
in Ireland
. The spin-off show Britain's Got More Talent is shown in both countries also. Anyone of age with some sort of talent to audition for the show can audition (singers, dancers, comedians, variety acts, etc). Acts will compete against each other in order to gain the audience support while trying to win the title of "Winner of Britain's Got Talent".
Throughout the show, contestants will have to perform in front of the judges; which currently consists of Amanda Holden
and Simon Cowell
. The original judging panel consisted of Holden, Cowell and Piers Morgan
, but in 2010, Morgan confirmed that he would not return for the 2011 series due to hosting his new show Piers Morgan Tonight
. For the third series, Kelly Brook
joined the show as a judge, but was axed as the producers claimed the show was too complicated with four judges. In the fourth and fifth series, Louis Walsh
appeared as a guest judge filling in for Cowell (2010) and Hasselhoff (2011). Michael McIntyre
and Hasselhoff joined the judging panel for series 5, although neither will not return for series 6. From series 5, Cowell will only be a judge for the live finals, due to his commitments with The X Factor USA
. Each year auditions have been held in front of a live audience, who often get tipped as the "fourth judge." The show follows live shows where the final 40 contestants will perform throughout the week in order to impress the British public
.
There have been five winners to date: Paul Potts
, George Sampson
, Diversity
, Spelbound
and Jai McDowall
. The winner of each series receives £
100,000 and is given the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance
in front of members of the British Royal Family
, including Queen Elizabeth
.
The show is known as one of Britain's biggest television talent competitions; the show is also proven popular in European countries. Series 3 live final brought in 17.3 million viewers. (a 64.6% audience share). On 18 October 2010, ITV
announced that Cowell had signed a three year contract renewing Britain's Got Talent until 2013.
creator, Pop Idol
/American Idol
judge and Sony Music Entertainment
A&R
Executive Simon Cowell
, who has created a Got Talent series
across the globe. On 12 February 2007, it was announced by ITV
the judges would be Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan
(who had also judged America's Got Talent) and Amanda Holden
(a late replacement for Cheryl Cole
, who later became a judge on The X Factor in 2008). Originally the judge line-up was to have been Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and David Hasselhoff
, from America's Got Talent. David Hasselhoff, along with Michael McIntyre
, have acted as judges in the 2011 series. In a similar fashion to The X Factor, the show has an ITV2
counterpart called Britain's Got More Talent, presented by magician and former CITV
presenter Stephen Mulhern
.
It was originally planned that the show would be broadcast in 2005 (before America's Got Talent) and presented by Paul O'Grady
. However, after O'Grady's defection to Channel 4
for The Paul O'Grady Show
, he refused to appear in another ITV show, so the series was put on hold after just one rehearsal show.
The Got Talent format has been adopted in a number of other countries, however, the original UK version has only been broadcast in one other country (Ireland) due to unsolved rights issues. Television stations in Scandinavia
n countries have also expressed an interest in showing the UK version, but have not been able to acquire the rights.
.
Series 1 and 2 consisted of original judges, music executive and television producer Simon Cowell
, television and West End star Amanda Holden
, and newspaper editor and journalist Piers Morgan
. As series 3 started, it was announced that the show would have a fourth judge, actress and glamour model Kelly Brook
. However after just a few day of filming, it was announced that Brook had been dropped as a talent judge after stating the format would be "too complicated" with four judges; Brook was later credited as a guest judge. Series 4 would remain with just Cowell, Holden and Morgan as judges. Cowell fell ill at one point and was unable to attend the Birmingham
auditions. Long-time friend and fellow X Factor
judge Louis Walsh
stepped in for him.
It was announced the show would return for a fifth series, but Morgan revealed that he would not return as a judge due to his commitments in America; widely known for being a judge on America's Got Talent
and he was preparing to take over the highly popular Larry King Live chat show on CNN
in America. It was later confirmed that actor, singer and former America's Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff
would take his seat on Britain's Got Talent. Hasselhoff was absent during some of the auditions due to his commitments with a pantomime
and Walsh returned as a guest judge. It was revealed that comedian Michael McIntyre
would be completing the judging panel. Cowell also announced he would not be present during the auditions of the show, as he would be busy launching The X Factor USA
; however he confirmed he would be present for the live shows.
McIntyre and Hasselhoff have confirmed that they will not return as judges in 2012.
, at any time during the audition, the judges may show disapproval to the act by pressing a buzzer which lights a large red "X" on the stage. If all the judges press their buzzers, the act must end immediately. Voting works on a best-of-three basis, with the sole exception of the auditions in Manchester during series 3, where 3 positive votes were required, because there were four judges.
After the auditions, the judges have to whittle almost 200 successful acts down to just 24 in series 1 and 40 in series 2–onwards. All of the performers are called back to discover if they have progressed to the live semi-finals.
During series 5
, some of the acts were asked to perform again to try and get through to the semi-finals as the judges were having difficulty coming to a final decision on who to send through to the semi-finals. This was the first time this had ever happened in the history of the show.
The semi-finals and final are broadcast live from The Fountain Studios in Wembley
(which is also used for The X Factor
), with a varying number of semi-finals, followed by the one live final split into two episodes over one night. The remaining acts perform across a number of semi-finals, with the two most popular acts from each semi-finals winning a position in the final. Judges may still end a performance early with three Xs. The judges are again asked to express their views on each act's performance.
After all acts have performed, phone lines open for a short time, while the public vote for the act they think were the best. After the votes have been counted, the act that has polled the highest number of public votes is automatically placed in the final. The judges then choose between the second and third most popular acts, with the winner of that vote also gaining a place in the final. All other acts are then eliminated from the competition. From series 5, the rules relating to judges' votes in the results show changed from previous series. In the past, the decision as to which act was sent through to the finals was made by the three judges (from which there would always be a majority). Now, with four judges, if there was a two-way tie the act with the second highest number of votes from the public would be sent through to the finals, otherwise the judges' decision would stand.
The show's secondary theme song is a full orchestral version of Lux Aeterna
(produced for the theatrical trailer
of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but originally written for the film Requiem for a Dream), which is used to create tension. It is also used for the judges "walk-in" at the beginning of every live show.
Britain's Got Talent has been criticised by psychologist Glenn Wilson
. who has referred to it as a "freak show". He states that "[contestants'] deficiencies and shortcomings are as important as their talent. We enjoy the stress we are putting these people under – will they or will they not survive?"
The treatment of contestants at the audition stage was heavily criticised by the Daily Mail
, which described applicants being kept waiting for over 10 hours with no food or drink provided, with no certainty of being allowed to perform more than a few seconds of their act. It also detailed how staff intentionally built up the hopes of low-quality performers in order to maximise the dramatic effect of the judges' put-downs, and the fine points of the contracts performers must sign, which gives the show infinite freedom to "modify" the footage for their own purposes, and to use the footage indefinitely for whatever purpose they choose.
Each year, on the morning of the first show of the new series, Britain's Got Talent has a special program titled "Most Talented". This features interviews of the winners from the previous series and their progress since winning.
.
, with dual dance group Signature
coming in second and singer Andrew Johnston
third. Other acts in the final included martial arts duo Strike, dance troupe Nemesis, 12-year-old mezzo-soprano Faryl Smith
, young dance couple Cheeky Monkeys, and canine freestyle team Kate and Jin.
continued as hosts. Sister-show Britain's Got More Talent with Stephen Mulhern
has also returned, as announced in the last episode of the second series.
The 2009 judges were Simon Cowell
, Amanda Holden
and Piers Morgan
. Kelly Brook
was originally announced as a new fourth judge, reportedly being offered £200,000 for the role, but was fired after just six days, having acted as a judge at the Manchester auditions only. According to Cowell, the reason given for sacking Brook was because the producers decided the format was "too complicated" with four judges while insiders maintain neither Ant and Dec warmed up to the idea of bringing on a judge without their consent. Ant published in his autobiography the reason the pair didn't like Kelly was that on the first day she asked what (Ant and Dec) would be doing on the show, which they took as a sign that she had not watched the show before. According to interviews, Kelly maintains that she was simply asking what they were going to do on that day, as in, "so what's on the agenda today". Either way, the show decided to simplify and just go with 3 judges.
During January and February 2009, applicants auditioned in: Manchester
(3 days, 120 auditionees; Glasgow
(one day, 40 auditionees); Birmingham
(three days, 120 auditionees); London
(three days, 120 auditionees); and Cardiff
(one day, 40 auditionees). At first round callbacks in London on 7 February, 40 acts were selected for the televised live semi-finals. The televised recordings of auditions started on 11 April, with the live semi-finals running from 24 April and the live final on 30 May. A contestant who was rejected during the fifth audition show, Emma Czikai, was said to have "complained to the media regulator Ofcom and lodged a complaint of unfairness and discrimination with the employment tribunal."
The series's most notable performance was by Susan Boyle
, a 48-year-old Scot, singing "I Dreamed a Dream
" from Les Misérables
. The performance earned a unanimous "yes" vote and resounding astonishment from the judges. Her performance helped lift the show to a launch record of 11.2 million viewers. Within five days of her initial appearance, YouTube recordings of the event had collectively generated more than 100 million views. Boyle also attracted widespread international media coverage.
(It is highly thought that this media coverage led to Susan Boyle being admitted to the psychiatric clinic The Priory.)
Among other finalists were: Aidan Davis
, Stavros Flatley (father-and-son comic Greek dancing duo), Flawless, Hollie Steel
, Diversity
, Shaun Smith, Shaheen Jafargholi
, the grandfather and granddaughter singing duo "2 Grand" and Julian Smith
who played the soprano saxophone. In a shock result, Diversity won the series, with Boyle as runner-up and Julian Smith third.
Bookmakers made a fortune because of the unexpected result. "We are in shock and have made a six-figure sum in what has been the biggest surprise in reality TV history. Susan was a certainty," said William Hill
spokesman Rupert Adams. William Hill estimate that over £3m was bet on the show in the final hour.
, Amanda Holden
and Piers Morgan
all returning for the start of the televised auditions on 18 January at the Clyde Auditorium
in Glasgow, although Cowell has said that this will be his last year doing the auditions. Auditions were then held in Manchester at the Manchester Opera House
, Cardiff
's Wales Millennium Centre
. The Journal Tyne Theatre
in Newcastle
, Birmingham's Birmingham Hippodrome
and ended on 10 February at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. Due to illness, Simon was unable to attend the filming of the Birmingham auditions and Louis Walsh
stood in for him at the last minute, the first time that Cowell has missed an audition show in his entire career.
The first programme of Series 4 was broadcast on 17 April 2010. Spellbound won the final on 5 June 2010, with Twist and Pulse as runners-up and Kieran Gaffney placing third. Other finalists included Paul Burling
, Tobias Mead, Christopher Stone, Tina and Chandi, Connected, Janey Cutler and Liam McNally.
High-street bookmakers Coral reported one of their "biggest gambles in reality TV history" on piano-playing comedian Kev Orkian:
Despite missing out on a place in the final and losing the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show, Kev Orkian beat winners Spelbound
and the other finalists to the post of performing for Royalty. Orkian reportedly entertained HRH Prince Philip just one week after being booted off the show. On 10 June 2010, Kev Orkian performed for HRH Prince Philip
, celebrating his 89th birthday at the Guards Polo Club
. The event fell behind schedule and Prince Philip was set to leave – before Kev got on stage – to get to another engagement. But as soon as Kev started his sketch the Prince decided to sit back down and watch the full act. So impressed was he that instead of rushing off at the end he stayed even longer to congratulate Kev in person. Prince Philip was quoted as saying “It’s a wonderful show. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance”. He had also performed for several other members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and Princess Michael of Kent. Kev Orkian was invited to perform for Prince Charles at Windsor Castle
in 2009 for the British Forces Foundation
10th Gala Dinner. Classical singer Katherine Jenkins
and comedian David Walliams
also attended.
continued as main hosts on ITV, while Stephen Mulhern
again hosted Britain's Got More Talent on ITV2. Among the judges, Piers Morgan
left the show due to new U.S. work commitments. Auditions took place in January 2011 in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and, for the first time, Liverpool. Simon Cowell
judged the live shows only. Amanda Holden
returned to the regular judging panel, joined by David Hasselhoff
and Michael McIntyre
, with guest judges appearing during the series. Louis Walsh
was a guest judge in the London auditions, replacing Hasselhoff, who was appearing in pantomime
. The winner was Jai McDowall
.
, David Walliams
and former X Factor judge Dannii Minogue
.
and on TV3 Ireland
, after the main ITV
and TV3 Britain's Got Talent broadcast. It features behind-the-scenes footage of Britain's Got Talent and shows the emotional responses of the contestants after the judges comment on their performances.
Britain's Got More Talent is currently hosted by Stephen Mulhern
. Mulhern was also host of the Britain's Got Talent: Live Tour in 2008 but Paddy McGuinness took up the position in 2010.
Each year after the series has come to an end, Britain's Got Talent has a week of special programmes entitled Britain's Got Talent: Best and Worst, featuring the best and worst auditions from the series, ranging from two to five episodes each year. This series is also hosted by Mulhern, though the series may feature clips of Ant & Dec
interviewing the acts beforehand.
in 2008, but failed to win any awards. In 2007 and 2008, the show was nominated at the TV Quick and Choice Awards in the 'Best Talent Show' category, losing out to The X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing respectively.
In 2008, it was a recipient of a RTS Award
for its technical achievements. It has also won four Nickelodeon UK
Kids Choice Awards from five nominations. In 2009, it won its first ever Digital Spy Reality Award for Escala for Favourite Reality Contestant. It was further nominated in the Reality Show category, but lost to The X-Factor in the Reality TV Presenter category for Ant and Dec and 2 nominations in the Reality TV Judge category for Simon Cowell and Piers.
hosted the tour, which began on 6 June. None of the judging panel were present, and there was no live voting.
After high demand for tickets, the tour was later extended to twenty two performances, including matinées. The tour featured all ten finalists, as well as semi-finalists Tracey Lee Collins and Anya Sparks. The tour also featured a duet with Faryl Smith and Andrew Johnston.
On 13 January 2009, a four date tour was announced with dates in Newcastle
, Cardiff
, Liverpool
and Manchester
. More dates were later added and the tour ran for eighteen shows from 12–26 June 2009 and also travelled to Dublin, Birmingham
, Belfast
, Sheffield
, Glasgow
, Edinburgh
, Nottingham
, London
, Aberdeen
and Bournemouth
.
The tour in 2009 included: Diversity, Flawless, Aidan Davis, Shaun Smith, Stavros Flatley, Hollie Steel, 2 Grand, Julian Smith, Shaheen Jafargholi, Susan Boyle, Darth Jackson, DJ Talent and the 2008 winner, George Sampson. Stephen Mulhern hosted the tour.
The tour returned in 2010, this time hosted by comedian Paddy McGuinness. the show also added a new city to the schedule, Brighton
. The tour included all the finalists: Spelbound
, Twist & Pulse, Kieran Gaffney, Tobias Mead, Tina & Chandi, Paul Burling, Christopher Stone, Janey Cutler, Liam McNally and Connected. The tour lasted from June 19 - July 11. With 16 cites and 23 shows, it was the longest Britains Got Talent Tour to date.
The tour in 2011 included all the finalists: Jai McDowall, Ronan Parke, New Bounce, Razy Gogonea, Michael Collings, Paul Gbegbaje, Steven Hall, James Hobley, Les Gibson and Jean Martyn.
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
's TalkbackThames
TalkbackTHAMES
Talkback Thames is a British television production company, a division of FremantleMedia . It was formed by the merger of Talkback Productions and Thames Television, the former ITV network franchisee for London on weekdays between 1968 and 1992...
and Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and TV3
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The spin-off show Britain's Got More Talent is shown in both countries also. Anyone of age with some sort of talent to audition for the show can audition (singers, dancers, comedians, variety acts, etc). Acts will compete against each other in order to gain the audience support while trying to win the title of "Winner of Britain's Got Talent".
Throughout the show, contestants will have to perform in front of the judges; which currently consists of Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
and Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
. The original judging panel consisted of Holden, Cowell and Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
, but in 2010, Morgan confirmed that he would not return for the 2011 series due to hosting his new show Piers Morgan Tonight
Piers Morgan Tonight
Piers Morgan Tonight is a talk show on CNN, hosted by Piers Morgan. The show premiered on January 17, 2011 and filled the former Larry King Live timeslot. The theme music is written by Anthony James, composer and CEO of British company Music Candy, and his writing partner Yiorgos Bellapaisiotis,...
. For the third series, Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook is an English model, actress, entrepreneur, television presenter and Playboy model.-Early life:...
joined the show as a judge, but was axed as the producers claimed the show was too complicated with four judges. In the fourth and fifth series, Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
appeared as a guest judge filling in for Cowell (2010) and Hasselhoff (2011). Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre
Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English stand-up comedian. He is well known for appearing at many British stand-up comedy events and for several roles on television stand-up programmes such as Live at the Apollo and his own show, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow...
and Hasselhoff joined the judging panel for series 5, although neither will not return for series 6. From series 5, Cowell will only be a judge for the live finals, due to his commitments with The X Factor USA
The X Factor (U.S.)
The X Factor is an American television music competition to find new singing talent. The show is produced by creator Simon Cowell's company SYCOtv. It premiered on September 21, 2011 on Fox....
. Each year auditions have been held in front of a live audience, who often get tipped as the "fourth judge." The show follows live shows where the final 40 contestants will perform throughout the week in order to impress the British public
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
.
There have been five winners to date: Paul Potts
Paul Potts
Paul Robert Potts is an English pop opera tenor who won the first series of ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2007, singing an operatic aria, "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot". As a singer of operatic music, Potts recorded the album One Chance, which went to #1 in nine countries...
, George Sampson
George Sampson
George Jennifer Sampson is a street dancer and actor from Warrington, England. He won the second series of Britain's Got Talent on 31 May 2008 at the age of 14.-2007 series:...
, Diversity
Diversity (dance troupe)
Diversity are an English street dance troupe based in London. They are best known for winning the third series of Britain's Got Talent, famously beating Susan Boyle in the live final. They also won the Families United Positive Role Models at the Spirit of London Awards. The group, initially known...
, Spelbound
Spelbound
Spelbound are a gymnastic troupe from the United Kingdom who rose to fame in 2010, winning the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent. The prize was £100,000 and the opportunity to appear at the 2010 Royal Variety Performance. They also performed in the Britain's Got Talent Live tour...
and Jai McDowall
Jai McDowall
Jai McDowall is a Scottish singer who won the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent in June 2011. As the winner, he received £100,000 and will perform at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance...
. The winner of each series receives £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
100,000 and is given the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
in front of members of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
, including Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
The show is known as one of Britain's biggest television talent competitions; the show is also proven popular in European countries. Series 3 live final brought in 17.3 million viewers. (a 64.6% audience share). On 18 October 2010, ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
announced that Cowell had signed a three year contract renewing Britain's Got Talent until 2013.
History
The show's format was created by The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
creator, Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
/American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
judge and Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Executive Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, who has created a Got Talent series
Got Talent series
The Got Talent franchise is a British TV format conceived and owned by Simon Cowell's SYCOtv company. A pilot show was made in Britain, hosted by Paul O'Grady, but after O'Grady's split with ITV, the series was postponed, resulting in America's Got Talent - the first full series of the format...
across the globe. On 12 February 2007, it was announced by ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
the judges would be Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
(who had also judged America's Got Talent) and Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
(a late replacement for Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
, who later became a judge on The X Factor in 2008). Originally the judge line-up was to have been Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
, from America's Got Talent. David Hasselhoff, along with Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre
Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English stand-up comedian. He is well known for appearing at many British stand-up comedy events and for several roles on television stand-up programmes such as Live at the Apollo and his own show, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow...
, have acted as judges in the 2011 series. In a similar fashion to The X Factor, the show has an ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
counterpart called Britain's Got More Talent, presented by magician and former CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
presenter Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
.
It was originally planned that the show would be broadcast in 2005 (before America's Got Talent) and presented by Paul O'Grady
Paul O'Grady
Paul James Michael O'Grady MBE is an English comedian, television presenter, actor, writer and radio DJ. He is best known for presenting the daytime chat television series, The Paul O'Grady Show and, more recently, Paul O'Grady Live, as well as his drag queen comedic alter ego, Lily Savage, as...
. However, after O'Grady's defection to Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
for The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
, he refused to appear in another ITV show, so the series was put on hold after just one rehearsal show.
The Got Talent format has been adopted in a number of other countries, however, the original UK version has only been broadcast in one other country (Ireland) due to unsolved rights issues. Television stations in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries have also expressed an interest in showing the UK version, but have not been able to acquire the rights.
Presenters and judges
From series 1, the show has been presented by English comedy and TV presenting duo Ant & DecAnt & Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
.
Series 1 and 2 consisted of original judges, music executive and television producer Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, television and West End star Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
, and newspaper editor and journalist Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
. As series 3 started, it was announced that the show would have a fourth judge, actress and glamour model Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook is an English model, actress, entrepreneur, television presenter and Playboy model.-Early life:...
. However after just a few day of filming, it was announced that Brook had been dropped as a talent judge after stating the format would be "too complicated" with four judges; Brook was later credited as a guest judge. Series 4 would remain with just Cowell, Holden and Morgan as judges. Cowell fell ill at one point and was unable to attend the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
auditions. Long-time friend and fellow X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
judge Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
stepped in for him.
It was announced the show would return for a fifth series, but Morgan revealed that he would not return as a judge due to his commitments in America; widely known for being a judge on America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
and he was preparing to take over the highly popular Larry King Live chat show on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
in America. It was later confirmed that actor, singer and former America's Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
would take his seat on Britain's Got Talent. Hasselhoff was absent during some of the auditions due to his commitments with a pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
and Walsh returned as a guest judge. It was revealed that comedian Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre
Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English stand-up comedian. He is well known for appearing at many British stand-up comedy events and for several roles on television stand-up programmes such as Live at the Apollo and his own show, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow...
would be completing the judging panel. Cowell also announced he would not be present during the auditions of the show, as he would be busy launching The X Factor USA
The X Factor (U.S.)
The X Factor is an American television music competition to find new singing talent. The show is produced by creator Simon Cowell's company SYCOtv. It premiered on September 21, 2011 on Fox....
; however he confirmed he would be present for the live shows.
McIntyre and Hasselhoff have confirmed that they will not return as judges in 2012.
Format
The auditions take place in front of the judges and a live audience at a different city across Britain. Unlike the The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, at any time during the audition, the judges may show disapproval to the act by pressing a buzzer which lights a large red "X" on the stage. If all the judges press their buzzers, the act must end immediately. Voting works on a best-of-three basis, with the sole exception of the auditions in Manchester during series 3, where 3 positive votes were required, because there were four judges.
After the auditions, the judges have to whittle almost 200 successful acts down to just 24 in series 1 and 40 in series 2–onwards. All of the performers are called back to discover if they have progressed to the live semi-finals.
During series 5
Britain's Got Talent (series 5)
The fifth series of Britain's Got Talent began on 16 April 2011 and ended on 4 June 2011. The winner of the show was Jai McDowall, who received £100,000 and a place at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance. The show was hosted by Ant & Dec on ITV, while Stephen Mulhern presented Britain's Got More...
, some of the acts were asked to perform again to try and get through to the semi-finals as the judges were having difficulty coming to a final decision on who to send through to the semi-finals. This was the first time this had ever happened in the history of the show.
The semi-finals and final are broadcast live from The Fountain Studios in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
(which is also used for The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
), with a varying number of semi-finals, followed by the one live final split into two episodes over one night. The remaining acts perform across a number of semi-finals, with the two most popular acts from each semi-finals winning a position in the final. Judges may still end a performance early with three Xs. The judges are again asked to express their views on each act's performance.
After all acts have performed, phone lines open for a short time, while the public vote for the act they think were the best. After the votes have been counted, the act that has polled the highest number of public votes is automatically placed in the final. The judges then choose between the second and third most popular acts, with the winner of that vote also gaining a place in the final. All other acts are then eliminated from the competition. From series 5, the rules relating to judges' votes in the results show changed from previous series. In the past, the decision as to which act was sent through to the finals was made by the three judges (from which there would always be a majority). Now, with four judges, if there was a two-way tie the act with the second highest number of votes from the public would be sent through to the finals, otherwise the judges' decision would stand.
The show's secondary theme song is a full orchestral version of Lux Aeterna
Lux Aeterna (Requiem for a Dream)
"Lux Aeterna" is a composition by Clint Mansell, the leitmotif of a movie from 2000, Requiem for a Dream, and the penultimate piece in the Requiem for a Dream score...
(produced for the theatrical trailer
Trailer (film)
A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the...
of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but originally written for the film Requiem for a Dream), which is used to create tension. It is also used for the judges "walk-in" at the beginning of every live show.
Britain's Got Talent has been criticised by psychologist Glenn Wilson
Glenn Wilson (psychologist)
Glenn Daniel Wilson is a psychologist best known for his work on attitude and personality measurement, sexual attraction, deviation and dysfunction, partner compatibility, and psychology applied to performing arts.In 2001, Wilson was ranked among the 10 most frequently cited British psychologists...
. who has referred to it as a "freak show". He states that "[contestants'] deficiencies and shortcomings are as important as their talent. We enjoy the stress we are putting these people under – will they or will they not survive?"
The treatment of contestants at the audition stage was heavily criticised by the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, which described applicants being kept waiting for over 10 hours with no food or drink provided, with no certainty of being allowed to perform more than a few seconds of their act. It also detailed how staff intentionally built up the hopes of low-quality performers in order to maximise the dramatic effect of the judges' put-downs, and the fine points of the contracts performers must sign, which gives the show infinite freedom to "modify" the footage for their own purposes, and to use the footage indefinitely for whatever purpose they choose.
Each year, on the morning of the first show of the new series, Britain's Got Talent has a special program titled "Most Talented". This features interviews of the winners from the previous series and their progress since winning.
Series 1 (2007)
Series one of Britain's Got Talent began on 9 June 2007 and ended on 17 June 2007. The first five shows covered the audition stages and the final three shows were the live semi-finals and final. Altogether, 24 (26) acts performed in the semi-finals, eight acts in each episode, with a further two acts disqualified from the competition before the semi-finals were broadcast. The series was eventually won by Paul PottsPaul Potts
Paul Robert Potts is an English pop opera tenor who won the first series of ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2007, singing an operatic aria, "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot". As a singer of operatic music, Potts recorded the album One Chance, which went to #1 in nine countries...
.
Series 2 (2008)
The 2008 series of Britain's Got Talent included notable differences from the 2007 series, including the fact that the auditions visited Scotland and that there were 40 in the live semi-finals. The series also ran for longer, this time lasting for seven weeks instead of one. The series was won by street-dancer George SampsonGeorge Sampson
George Jennifer Sampson is a street dancer and actor from Warrington, England. He won the second series of Britain's Got Talent on 31 May 2008 at the age of 14.-2007 series:...
, with dual dance group Signature
Signature (dance group)
Signature are an English dance group which consists of British Pakistani Suleman Mirza and British Indian Madhu Singh. Their notable style of dance is British Bhangra and they frequently base their performances around Michael Jackson songs, such as "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"...
coming in second and singer Andrew Johnston
Andrew Johnston (singer)
Andrew Johnston is a British singer who rose to fame when he appeared as a boy soprano on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. Although he did not win the series, he received a contract to record on the SyCo Music label owned by the Britain's Got...
third. Other acts in the final included martial arts duo Strike, dance troupe Nemesis, 12-year-old mezzo-soprano Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
, young dance couple Cheeky Monkeys, and canine freestyle team Kate and Jin.
Series 3 (2009)
Britain's Got Talent returned on 11 April 2009. Ant & DecAnt & Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
continued as hosts. Sister-show Britain's Got More Talent with Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
has also returned, as announced in the last episode of the second series.
The 2009 judges were Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
and Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
. Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook is an English model, actress, entrepreneur, television presenter and Playboy model.-Early life:...
was originally announced as a new fourth judge, reportedly being offered £200,000 for the role, but was fired after just six days, having acted as a judge at the Manchester auditions only. According to Cowell, the reason given for sacking Brook was because the producers decided the format was "too complicated" with four judges while insiders maintain neither Ant and Dec warmed up to the idea of bringing on a judge without their consent. Ant published in his autobiography the reason the pair didn't like Kelly was that on the first day she asked what (Ant and Dec) would be doing on the show, which they took as a sign that she had not watched the show before. According to interviews, Kelly maintains that she was simply asking what they were going to do on that day, as in, "so what's on the agenda today". Either way, the show decided to simplify and just go with 3 judges.
During January and February 2009, applicants auditioned in: Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
(3 days, 120 auditionees; Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(one day, 40 auditionees); Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
(three days, 120 auditionees); London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(three days, 120 auditionees); and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
(one day, 40 auditionees). At first round callbacks in London on 7 February, 40 acts were selected for the televised live semi-finals. The televised recordings of auditions started on 11 April, with the live semi-finals running from 24 April and the live final on 30 May. A contestant who was rejected during the fifth audition show, Emma Czikai, was said to have "complained to the media regulator Ofcom and lodged a complaint of unfairness and discrimination with the employment tribunal."
The series's most notable performance was by Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle
Susan Magdalane Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from ...
, a 48-year-old Scot, singing "I Dreamed a Dream
I Dreamed a Dream
"I Dreamed a Dream" is a song from the musical Les Misérables. It is a solo that is sung by the character Fantine during the first act. The music is by Claude-Michel Schönberg, with orchestrations by John Cameron...
" from Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
. The performance earned a unanimous "yes" vote and resounding astonishment from the judges. Her performance helped lift the show to a launch record of 11.2 million viewers. Within five days of her initial appearance, YouTube recordings of the event had collectively generated more than 100 million views. Boyle also attracted widespread international media coverage.
(It is highly thought that this media coverage led to Susan Boyle being admitted to the psychiatric clinic The Priory.)
Among other finalists were: Aidan Davis
Aidan Davis
Aidan Davis is a child street dancer from Birmingham, England who is best known for reaching the final of the third series of the ITV talent show Britain's Got Talent. He finished fifth place overall...
, Stavros Flatley (father-and-son comic Greek dancing duo), Flawless, Hollie Steel
Hollie Steel
Hollie Steel is a singer and performer from Huncoat, Lancashire, England. At the age of ten she was one of ten finalists on the third series of the ITV reality show Britain's Got Talent....
, Diversity
Diversity (dance troupe)
Diversity are an English street dance troupe based in London. They are best known for winning the third series of Britain's Got Talent, famously beating Susan Boyle in the live final. They also won the Families United Positive Role Models at the Spirit of London Awards. The group, initially known...
, Shaun Smith, Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi is a Welsh teen actor and singer from Swansea, Wales. He is of Iranian and Welsh descent. He appeared on ITV's Britain's Got Talent show and sang "Who's Lovin' You" at Michael Jackson's globally televised public memorial service in July 2009...
, the grandfather and granddaughter singing duo "2 Grand" and Julian Smith
Julian Smith (saxophonist)
Julian Smith is a British saxophonist and music teacher from Halesowen. He is also known by his stage name Joolz Gianni...
who played the soprano saxophone. In a shock result, Diversity won the series, with Boyle as runner-up and Julian Smith third.
Bookmakers made a fortune because of the unexpected result. "We are in shock and have made a six-figure sum in what has been the biggest surprise in reality TV history. Susan was a certainty," said William Hill
William Hill (bookmaker)
William Hill plc is one of the largest bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters is in the north London suburb of Wood Green and in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
spokesman Rupert Adams. William Hill estimate that over £3m was bet on the show in the final hour.
Series 4 (2010)
The 2010 panel of judges remained unchanged, with Simon CowellSimon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
and Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
all returning for the start of the televised auditions on 18 January at the Clyde Auditorium
Clyde Auditorium
The Clyde Auditorium, familiarly known as "The Armadillo", is an iconic concert venue in Glasgow, Scotland. The building sits on the site of the now infilled Queen's Dock on the River Clyde, adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre....
in Glasgow, although Cowell has said that this will be his last year doing the auditions. Auditions were then held in Manchester at the Manchester Opera House
Manchester Opera House
The Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, England is a 1,920 seater commercial touring theatre which plays host to touring musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime. It is the sister to the Palace Theatre which is a similar venue in nearby Oxford Street at its junction with Whitworth...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
's Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
. The Journal Tyne Theatre
The Journal Tyne Theatre
The Journal Tyne Theatre is a theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is a Grade I listed building. According to its website, it is the world's oldest working Victorian theatre....
in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Birmingham's Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
The Birmingham Hippodrome is a theatre situated on Hurst Street in the Chinese Quarter of Birmingham, England.Although best known as the home stage of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, it also hosts a wide variety of other performances including visiting opera and ballet companies, touring West End...
and ended on 10 February at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. Due to illness, Simon was unable to attend the filming of the Birmingham auditions and Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
stood in for him at the last minute, the first time that Cowell has missed an audition show in his entire career.
The first programme of Series 4 was broadcast on 17 April 2010. Spellbound won the final on 5 June 2010, with Twist and Pulse as runners-up and Kieran Gaffney placing third. Other finalists included Paul Burling
Paul Burling
Paul Burling is a British impressionist. A veteran of show business for 25 years, having worked in voiceover, radio and pantomime, he rose to national attention as a finalist of the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent...
, Tobias Mead, Christopher Stone, Tina and Chandi, Connected, Janey Cutler and Liam McNally.
High-street bookmakers Coral reported one of their "biggest gambles in reality TV history" on piano-playing comedian Kev Orkian:
With the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent set to get underway in just a few hours . . . . Orkian has been cut from 100/1 to 9/1 with the firm, and he is now the fourth favourite behind Spellbound, who are 2/1 favourites, Olivia Archbold (7/2) and Liam McNally, at 13/2. Coral spokesman Gary Burton told Bettingpro: "The few pounds we saw first thing this morning at 100/1 and 80/1 quickly turned into three figure bets at shorter prices, he will cost us a fortune if he wins. It's been an incredible punt!".During the live semi-finals, Cowell and Morgan both buzzed him, though Holden allowed him to finish. He did not reach the final.
Despite missing out on a place in the final and losing the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show, Kev Orkian beat winners Spelbound
Spelbound
Spelbound are a gymnastic troupe from the United Kingdom who rose to fame in 2010, winning the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent. The prize was £100,000 and the opportunity to appear at the 2010 Royal Variety Performance. They also performed in the Britain's Got Talent Live tour...
and the other finalists to the post of performing for Royalty. Orkian reportedly entertained HRH Prince Philip just one week after being booted off the show. On 10 June 2010, Kev Orkian performed for HRH Prince Philip
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, celebrating his 89th birthday at the Guards Polo Club
Guards Polo Club
Guards Polo Club is the polo club most closely associated with the British Royal Family. HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh has been President of the club since its formation in 1955 and HM The Queen is its Patron...
. The event fell behind schedule and Prince Philip was set to leave – before Kev got on stage – to get to another engagement. But as soon as Kev started his sketch the Prince decided to sit back down and watch the full act. So impressed was he that instead of rushing off at the end he stayed even longer to congratulate Kev in person. Prince Philip was quoted as saying “It’s a wonderful show. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance”. He had also performed for several other members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and Princess Michael of Kent. Kev Orkian was invited to perform for Prince Charles at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
in 2009 for the British Forces Foundation
British Forces Foundation
The British Forces Foundation is a British Charity, reg no 1075109The foundation was launched in May 1999 by comedian Jim Davidson to support the well being of the members of Britains armed forces though the provision of high quality entertainment....
10th Gala Dinner. Classical singer Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...
and comedian David Walliams
David Walliams
David Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...
also attended.
Series 5 (2011)
The show returned for a fifth series on 16 April 2011. Ant & DecAnt & Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
continued as main hosts on ITV, while Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
again hosted Britain's Got More Talent on ITV2. Among the judges, Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
left the show due to new U.S. work commitments. Auditions took place in January 2011 in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and, for the first time, Liverpool. Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
judged the live shows only. Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
returned to the regular judging panel, joined by David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
and Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre
Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English stand-up comedian. He is well known for appearing at many British stand-up comedy events and for several roles on television stand-up programmes such as Live at the Apollo and his own show, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow...
, with guest judges appearing during the series. Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
was a guest judge in the London auditions, replacing Hasselhoff, who was appearing in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
. The winner was Jai McDowall
Jai McDowall
Jai McDowall is a Scottish singer who won the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent in June 2011. As the winner, he received £100,000 and will perform at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance...
.
Series 6 (2012)
A sixth series was first announced in an advertisement and at the end of the fifth series on 4 June 2011. McIntyre and Hasselhoff have confirmed they will not be returning for the sixth series, however, Holden has confirmed she will. Cowell intends to return to judging the whole process. Front-runners for replacement judges are Barbara WindsorBarbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
, David Walliams
David Walliams
David Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...
and former X Factor judge Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
.
Britain's Got More Talent
Britain's Got More Talent is a companion show which is broadcast on digital channel ITV2ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
and on TV3 Ireland
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
, after the main ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and TV3 Britain's Got Talent broadcast. It features behind-the-scenes footage of Britain's Got Talent and shows the emotional responses of the contestants after the judges comment on their performances.
Britain's Got More Talent is currently hosted by Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
. Mulhern was also host of the Britain's Got Talent: Live Tour in 2008 but Paddy McGuinness took up the position in 2010.
Each year after the series has come to an end, Britain's Got Talent has a week of special programmes entitled Britain's Got Talent: Best and Worst, featuring the best and worst auditions from the series, ranging from two to five episodes each year. This series is also hosted by Mulhern, though the series may feature clips of Ant & Dec
Ant & Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
interviewing the acts beforehand.
Awards and nominations
Britain's Got Talent has been nominated for two 'National Television Awards' in the category of 'Most Popular Talent Show' in 2007 and 2008, losing to its sister show The X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing respectively. The show's comedy duo presenters, Ant and Dec, have won the award for 'Most Popular Entertainment Presenters' at the same awards in 2007 and 2008. It has also been nominated for two BAFTA AwardsBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
in 2008, but failed to win any awards. In 2007 and 2008, the show was nominated at the TV Quick and Choice Awards in the 'Best Talent Show' category, losing out to The X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing respectively.
In 2008, it was a recipient of a RTS Award
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
for its technical achievements. It has also won four Nickelodeon UK
Nickelodeon UK
Nickelodeon is a children's television channel available on Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV and UPC Ireland in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including on demand on BT Vision. The channel was launched on 1 September 1993...
Kids Choice Awards from five nominations. In 2009, it won its first ever Digital Spy Reality Award for Escala for Favourite Reality Contestant. It was further nominated in the Reality Show category, but lost to The X-Factor in the Reality TV Presenter category for Ant and Dec and 2 nominations in the Reality TV Judge category for Simon Cowell and Piers.
Awards Table
| Year | Group | Award | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | National Television Awards National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... |
Most Popular Talent Show | Nominated | |
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | Ant and Dec | Won | |
| Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK, also known as the KCAs, is an annual awards show, similar to the American and Australian versions. The show features numerous celebrity guests and musical acts. In recent years slime stunts have come into the show... |
Best Reality Show | Nominated | ||
| Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards | Best TV Presenters | Ant and Dec | Won | |
| TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Talent Show | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | National Television Awards National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... |
Most Popular Talent Show | Nominated | |
| Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards | Favourite Winner | George Sampson | Won | |
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | Ant and Dec | Won | |
| BAFTA Awards | Lew Grade Award | Nominated | ||
| BAFTA Awards | Audience Award | Nominated | ||
| Royal Television Society Royal Television Society The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world... Awards |
Best Production Design-Entertainment | Dominic Tolfts | Won | |
| Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards | Best TV Presenters | Ant and Dec | Won | |
| Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards | Best Family TV Show | Won | ||
| Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards | Best TV Baddie | Simon Cowell | Won | |
| 2009 | TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Talent Show | Nominated | |
| Digital Spy Reality TV Awards 2009 | Favourite TV Reality | Nominated | ||
| Digital Spy Reality TV Awards | Favourite TV Reality Judge | Simon Cowell | Nominated | |
| Digital Spy Reality TV Awards | Favourite TV Reality Judge | Piers Morgan | Nominated | |
| Digital Spy Reality TV Awards | Favourite TV Reality Presenters | Ant and Dec | Nominated | |
| Digital Spy Reality TV Awards | Favourite Reality Contestant | George Sampson | Won | |
| 2010 | National Television Awards National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... |
Most Popular Talent Show | Nominated | |
| 2011 | National Television Awards National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... |
Most Popular Talent Show | Nominated | |
| 2011 | TV Choice Awards | Best Talent Show | Won |
Live Tour
On 17 April 2008, a thirteen date live tour was announced visiting the UK's major cities during the month of June, featuring the semi-finalists, the finalists and the winner from series two, along with a few surprises. Stephen MulhernStephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
hosted the tour, which began on 6 June. None of the judging panel were present, and there was no live voting.
After high demand for tickets, the tour was later extended to twenty two performances, including matinées. The tour featured all ten finalists, as well as semi-finalists Tracey Lee Collins and Anya Sparks. The tour also featured a duet with Faryl Smith and Andrew Johnston.
On 13 January 2009, a four date tour was announced with dates in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. More dates were later added and the tour ran for eighteen shows from 12–26 June 2009 and also travelled to Dublin, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
.
The tour in 2009 included: Diversity, Flawless, Aidan Davis, Shaun Smith, Stavros Flatley, Hollie Steel, 2 Grand, Julian Smith, Shaheen Jafargholi, Susan Boyle, Darth Jackson, DJ Talent and the 2008 winner, George Sampson. Stephen Mulhern hosted the tour.
The tour returned in 2010, this time hosted by comedian Paddy McGuinness. the show also added a new city to the schedule, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. The tour included all the finalists: Spelbound
Spelbound
Spelbound are a gymnastic troupe from the United Kingdom who rose to fame in 2010, winning the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent. The prize was £100,000 and the opportunity to appear at the 2010 Royal Variety Performance. They also performed in the Britain's Got Talent Live tour...
, Twist & Pulse, Kieran Gaffney, Tobias Mead, Tina & Chandi, Paul Burling, Christopher Stone, Janey Cutler, Liam McNally and Connected. The tour lasted from June 19 - July 11. With 16 cites and 23 shows, it was the longest Britains Got Talent Tour to date.
The tour in 2011 included all the finalists: Jai McDowall, Ronan Parke, New Bounce, Razy Gogonea, Michael Collings, Paul Gbegbaje, Steven Hall, James Hobley, Les Gibson and Jean Martyn.
Top selling Albums
These albums were sold after Britain's Got Talent. The sales numbers are UK sales only.Artists with BPI certified Albums
| Former contestant Total sales |
Debut album | Second album | Third album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Susan Boyle Susan Boyle Susan Magdalane Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from ... (Series 3, Runner-up) 2,340,000 |
I Dreamed a Dream I Dreamed a Dream (album) I Dreamed a Dream is the debut album from Scottish singer Susan Boyle. It was released on 23 November 2009 by Syco Music in the United Kingdom, and by Columbia Records in the United States one day later. In the standard edition, 11 out of the 12 songs that appear on the album are cover songs, plus... (23 November 2009) Syco/Columbia 7x Platinum 2,100,000 Peak: 1 |
The Gift The Gift (Susan Boyle album) The Gift is the second album by Scottish singer Susan Boyle, which was released on 8 November 2010. Boyle hinted that the album has a 1960s feel "because that was [her] era".-Background:... (8 November 2010) Syco/Columbia Gold 500,000 Peak: 1 |
Someone to Watch Over Me (1 November 2011) Syco/Columbia Peak: 1 |
| 2 | Paul Potts Paul Potts Paul Robert Potts is an English pop opera tenor who won the first series of ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2007, singing an operatic aria, "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot". As a singer of operatic music, Potts recorded the album One Chance, which went to #1 in nine countries... (Series 1, Winner) 680,000 |
One Chance (16 July 2007) Syco/Columbia 2x Platinum 680,000 Peak: 1 |
Passione Passione (album) Passione is the second album by opera singer Paul Potts. It was released in 2009. Potts spent nearly a year recording Passione in Prague and Stockholm.-Track listing:-Charts:... (1 June 2009) Syco/Columbia n/a n/a Peak: 5 |
Cinema Paradiso (15 October 2010) Sony n/a n/a Peak: did not chart |
| 3 | Andrew Johnston Andrew Johnston (singer) Andrew Johnston is a British singer who rose to fame when he appeared as a boy soprano on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. Although he did not win the series, he received a contract to record on the SyCo Music label owned by the Britain's Got... (Series 2, 3rd place) 120,000 |
One Voice One Voice (Andrew Johnston album) One Voice is the debut album by British boy soprano Andrew Johnston, who rose to fame in 2008 after his appearance on the second series of Britain's Got Talent. The album was released on 29 September 2008 by Syco Music, Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell's record label... (29 September 2008) Syco Gold 120,000 Peak: 4 |
||
| 4 | Connie Talbot Connie Talbot Connie Talbot is an English child singer from Streetly, Aldridge, in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands. She rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the final of the television talent show Britain's Got Talent, where she was runner-up to Paul Potts... (Series 1, Runner-up) 120,000 |
Over the Rainbow Over the Rainbow (Connie Talbot album) Over the Rainbow is Connie Talbot's debut album, released 26 November 2007 by Rainbow Recording Company. It received poor reviews from critics and peaked at #35 on the British charts. Despite this, additional copies of the album had to be pressed after sales were higher than expected... (26 November 2007) Rainbow Recording Company Gold 120,000 Peak: 35 |
Connie Talbot's Christmas Album Connie Talbot's Christmas Album Connie Talbot's Christmas Album, sometimes referred to as Connie's Christmas Album or just Christmas Album, is the second album from English child singer Connie Talbot, released on 24 November 2008. The album is made up of Christmas-themed songs, and was recorded in the middle of 2008... (24 November 2008) Rainbow Recording Company n/a n/a Peak: did not chart |
Holiday Magic Connie Talbot's Holiday Magic Connie Talbot's Holiday Magic is the third album by British child singer Connie Talbot. Released 13 October 2009 by AAO Music, it features rerecordings of songs from Talbot's previous album, Connie Talbot's Christmas Album, as well as new tracks... (26 November 2009) Rainbow Recording Company n/a n/a Peak: did not chart |
| 5 | Escala Escala (group) Escala is an electronic string quartet, from London, England who rose to fame when they performed on and reached the final of the second series of Britain's Got Talent on ITV1 in May 2008.- Background :... (Series 2, 4th place) 100,000 |
Escala Escala (album) Escala is the self-titled debut album by British Quartet Escala, who appeared on the ITV talent contest Britain's Got Talent. It was released on 25 May 2009 in the United Kingdom.- Release :... (25 May 2009) Sony BMG/Syco Gold 100,000 Peak: 2 |
Artists without BPI certified Albums
| Former contestant | Total sales | Albums | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Faryl Smith Faryl Smith Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished... (Series 2, 5th place) |
150,000 |
|
| 7 | Charlie Green Charlie Green (singer) Charlie Green is an English-singer from Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. Green is best known for appearing on the second series of the British television talent contest Britain's Got Talent.... (Series 2, Semi-finalist) |
|
Merchandise
There are five pieces of related merchandise:- Best of The Auditions DVD (2009)
- The Electronic Board Game (2009)
- The Magic Set (2009)
- Finalists of 2009: Annual 2010 (2009)
- Be the judge buzzer (2010)