118-403: The second series of British talent competition programme Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV , from 12 April to 31 May 2008. Following the success of its first series, ITV commissioned the programme for additional episodes, with more venues used for auditions than in the previous series, and the number of semi-finalists, semi-final rounds, and finalists increased by production staff. Both
236-407: A British correspondent for The Early Show . From 2009 until 2014 Holden co-presented A Night of Heroes: The Sun Military Awards annually on ITV with Phillip Schofield . In January 2010 she presented her own three-part series, Amanda Holden's Fantasy Lives , in which she tried out three of her dream jobs. In 2010, Holden co-presented The Door with Chris Tarrant . In 2011, Holden narrated
354-437: A Golden Buzzer, as of series 8), are divided into groups for each round, where they must perform before the audience and judges, as well as on live television. As with the audition stage, each semi-finalist must conduct a performance before the judges – a new routine of their act – with the judges' role being to watch what is conducted and give feedback towards the end of the performance. Buzzers may still be used by each judge, and
472-596: A Pet a Home (2015). In 2013, Holden released her autobiography, No Holding Back , which became a Sunday Times bestseller. In 2020, she released her debut studio album, Songs from My Heart , which reached the top 5 on the UK Albums Chart . Holden was born in Portsmouth , Hampshire , and spent much of her childhood in Bishop's Waltham , and aged nine she joined Bishop's Waltham Little Theatre Company. She attended
590-479: A documentary series, titled The Talent Show Story , in January 2012. The original plan for the show was for it to be aired within 2005–2006 (before the broadcast of America's Got Talent ), with Paul O'Grady presenting the programme under the title Paul O'Grady's Got Talent , after having hosted the pilot. However, complications arose when O'Grady was involved in a row with ITV and refused to appear on another of
708-420: A fair chance in the live semi-finals. The amount that goes through has varied over the show's history, though usually consists of a number that can be divided equally over the semi-finals being held in a series. Once the judges have decided on who will go through, all contestants that have reached this stage are called back to discover if they will progress into the live semi-finals or not. After this has been done,
826-563: A family near Bordeaux , France, then moved his wife and eldest children back to Great Britain. Holden also learned that her grandfather Frank Holden was aboard the RMS Lancastria when it was bombed by the Wehrmacht in June 1940 outside the port of Saint-Nazaire . In 2010 Holden campaigned to keep a Sainsbury's supermarket out of Bishop's Waltham . Residents of her hometown then accused her of
944-668: A gossip columnist for the News of the World . From 2010 until 2012 Holden appeared in television commercial adverts for supermarket chain Tesco . Since 2012 she has appeared in television commercials for Danone Oykos low-fat yoghurt. In October 2013, Amanda released her autobiography, No Holding Back , which became a Sunday Times best seller. In 2015, she was the new face of the Alpen Brighter Morning Challenge. In 2021, she
1062-530: A guest appearance in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Harriet Wallace in 2022. She began filming for the show in London during October 2021. In 2021, she started appearing in a new comedy mockumentary series from Bo' Selecta! creator Leigh Francis . The programme was called The Holden Girls: Mandy & Myrtle and featured Francis in drag with heavy make-up as Amanda's nan Myrtle. The show launched on
1180-401: A guest judge for the London auditions when Hasselhoff couldn't attend due to other commitments at the time. The series was won by singer Jai McDowall , with singer Ronan Parke coming in second, and boy band New Bounce placing third. The sixth series was aired during 2012, between 24 March and 12 May. For this series, the cash prize was increased from £100,000 to £500,000, and a new feature
1298-428: A guest judge for these. The series was won by gymnastic troupe Spelbound , with dancing duo Twist and Pulse coming in second, and drummer Kieran Gaffney placing third. The fifth series was aired during 2011, between 16 April and 4 June, and was the first to be broadcast completely in high-definition . A single episode intended for airing on 28 May, was pushed back to 29 May, to avoid it clashing with live coverage of
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#17331425611431416-419: A guest judge in his place. The series was won by comedic pianist Jon Courtenay , with sign-language choir Sign Along With Us finishing in second place, and comedian Steve Royle in third place. The fifteenth series was planned for production and broadcast in 2021, yet ITV , Thames and Syco Entertainment were concerned on how to safely conduct filming in the midst of the new government restrictions to combat
1534-434: A judge and was replaced by Bruno Tonioli . This series is notable of having eight Golden Buzzers instead of the usual five and also the first "group Golden Buzzer" by all four judges. The final took place on 4 June, with comedian Viggo Venn winning. Dancer Lillianna Clifton and magician Cillian O'Connor came second and third respectively. The seventeenth series aired in 2024, between 20 April and 2 June. The entire cast from
1652-513: A miscarriage in 2010, she suffered the stillbirth of their son at seven months in 2011. In 2012, despite medical complications, she gave birth to their third child. Holden and Hughes reside in Petersham , Surrey . Holden also owns a cottage in Chipping Norton , Oxfordshire which she has been renovating since 2017. In December 2016 Holden's ancestry was the subject of a BBC programme in
1770-483: A number of National Television Awards in the category of 'Most Popular Talent Show' since 2007, but has lost out to its sister shows The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing . Ant and Dec have won the award for 'Most Popular Entertainment Presenters' at the same awards for twenty-two consecutive years, as of September 2023. Britain's Got Talent has also been nominated for two British Academy Television Awards in 2008, but failed to win any awards. In 2007 and 2008,
1888-454: A number, and remains within the venue's designated waiting area until called into the wings to prepare to perform. Once brought onto the main stage, they begin by engaging with the judges, asking a few small questions (subjects can include their name, background and nature of their performance) – whereupon they are given three minutes to conduct their performance. A backing track for their act is allowed if required. A performance ends when either
2006-403: A performance is over, each judge will give an overview of what they thought about the act, before casting a vote. If the contestant(s) receives a majority vote of "Yes", they then proceed onto the next stage in the contest, otherwise they are eliminated at that point from the competition. Beginning with the eighth series, judges can also grant an automatic place in the live rounds through the use of
2124-421: A pre-recorded film for the episode's live broadcast. Each semi-final can only have two participants advance into the final, and these are determined by two votes. The first is public phone-in vote (via a special phone-number), in which the last two digits correspond to each semi-finalist, that takes place once all semi-finalists have performed and during a break in the semi-final to allow for votes to be made. Once
2242-457: A show with that title. The original panel of judges was going to be Simon Cowell, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan. I was the host. Then when I had the row with ITV I was banned from the studios. I remember I rang Simon and told him he had a huge hit on his hands, but there was no way I could do it. I said, if I am banned I have to be banned from everything. I can't be a hypocrite and come in and do this. I had to bow out." On 12 February 2007, following
2360-606: A six-part factual series for ITV called Give a Pet a Home , which worked alongside the RSPCA finding homes for animals. The series aired in April and May 2015. On 18 December 2015 Holden was part of the presenting team for ITV's Christmas telethon Text Santa . In 2016 she presented I've Got Something To Tell You , a factual series for the W television channel. She appeared as Miss Pentangle in CBBC 's The Worst Witch in 2017. Holden made
2478-421: Is arranged into three zones consisting of a waiting area for participants, the wings where they enter and leave, and the main stage area that they perform on. The second round's name is due to the fact that these auditions are attended to by the judges, along with an audience who secure tickets to attend these sessions. Each participant that seeks to enter that year's competition must first submit an application to
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#17331425611432596-447: Is no longer televised. For the fifth series , some acts were asked to perform again, as the judges had had difficulty coming to a final decision on the semi-finalist, and thus needed to see their performance again in order to make up their minds; it is the only time in the show's history that this has happened, and has not been repeated since. Contestants who make it into the semi-finals by passing both stages of auditions (or receiving
2714-442: Is produced by both Thames ( Talkback Thames until 2011) and Syco Entertainment , distributed by Fremantle , and broadcast on ITV every year (excluding 2021) in late Spring to early Summer. The show was originally intended for production in 2005, but filming was suspended in the wake of a dispute between ITV and the programme's originally planned host. Following the success of America's Got Talent that year, production resumed, and
2832-402: Is required, per the programme's terms and conditions. Once an application is approved, the participant conducts a performance during an open audition close to where they reside (or can reach), whereupon if successful, they will be allocated a place in the second round, and at a venue that they can reach without issue. Once they arrive at the venue they are assigned to, the participant is then given
2950-523: The Got Talent franchise, competing for the "Ultimate Magician" title and £50,000. The one-off special featured judges Amanda Holden , Alesha Dixon and David Walliams and guest Penn Jillette (who replaced Simon Cowell due to commitments in the US). Former magician Stephen Mulhern hosted the show due to Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly testing positive for Covid days before filming. The show filmed at
3068-559: The Jonathan Creek episode "The Problem at Gallowes Gate", and a Boxing Day special Agatha Christie's Marple episode "4.50 From Paddington" opposite Geraldine McEwan and John Hannah . She co-starred with Bill Nighy and Tom Courtenay in Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill , a comedy drama by Jack Rosenthal . Holden is a judge on Britain's Got Talent along with Simon Cowell , Bruno Tonioli , and Alesha Dixon . She joined
3186-742: The Who Do You Think You Are? series. The investigation discovered that her Cornish 5x great-grandfather, Collin Thomas, served a year's imprisonment after breaking his apprenticeship as a cordwainer by enlisting in the Royal Navy and leaving the United Kingdom aged 15. Ten years later, while serving in the British Army after the Peninsular War , he met and married a French woman and began
3304-620: The Born Free Foundation . Since 2013 she has presented the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Animal Hero Awards. Holden has raised money for Jeans for Genes and SSAFA via The Big Brew Up. In 2013 she became a celebrity ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home following her work with Pedigree Petfoods campaign that she and fellow ambassador Paul O'Grady supported together. In June 2018 Holden
3422-704: The COVID-19 pandemic . After initially deciding to postpone production until later in the year, all involved parties agreed that they would not produce a new series until the following year, when government restrictions were eased and conditions surrounding the pandemic would be favourable for large-scale television production. The series began filming in January 2022, and airing on 16 April. The final took place on 5 June, with comedian Axel Blake winning. Ventriloquist Jamie Leahey and singer Tom Ball came second and third respectively. The sixteenth series aired in 2023, between 15 April and 4 June. David Walliams did not return as
3540-494: The COVID-19 pandemic affecting the United Kingdom . The first half focused on audition episodes that had already been filmed earlier that year, and were broadcast between April and May. Production resumed on the remaining episodes for the second half, following a hiatus, which were broadcast between August and October. Several changes were implemented: measures were put in place to protect those involved from infection, including
3658-495: The ICC Birmingham on 11 October 2022, and was aired on 18 December 2022. Eric Chien won the show, with Magical Bones as runner-up and The Witch in third place. Ahead of the 2024 series of Britain's Got Talent , ITV announced a spin-off companion show titled BGT Reacts . Released on ITVX , the series sees British content creators reacting to acts featured on the talent show. Britain's Got Talent has been nominated for
Britain's Got Talent series 2 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3776-494: The UEFA Champions League Final . Auditions took place across the same five cities, though also included Liverpool . This series saw a change in the judging panel, following Piers Morgan ' s departure from the show, with Holden joined by David Hasselhoff and Michael McIntyre during the auditions. Cowell appeared during the live episodes of the series with the rest of the panel, while Louis Walsh returned as
3894-501: The UEFA Champions League Final . The auditions were once more held across the same five cities as before, though the series also held auditions with Newcastle upon Tyne . The city had been originally planned to hold auditions for the previous series, but these were cancelled before this could happen. Owing to illness, Cowell was unable to attend the Birmingham auditions due to having the flu, which led to Louis Walsh being in brought in as
4012-710: The WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical . In 2016 Holden starred in a West End revival of Stepping Out and reprised her role when it opened at the Vaudeville Theatre in March 2017. In 1996, Holden played Pamela in Intimate Relations . In 1999 she appeared as a shoe-shop assistant in Virtual Sexuality . She was uncredited in the 2013 film One Chance . In April 2019, it
4130-452: The third series attracted a record 17.3 million viewers, obtaining a 64.6% audience share at the time of its broadcast. Each series of the main programme is accompanied by a sister show, Britain's Got More Talent , presented by Stephen Mulhern . Until June 2019, the programme was aired on ITV2 , but has since been moved to online platforms. A spin-off featuring the same judges and hosts, titled Britain's Got Talent: The Champions ,
4248-441: The "Golden Buzzer" situated on their panel's desk (a feature first introduced on Germany's Got Talent ), which can be used by any of the judges for a participant whose audition was exceptional in their opinion, regardless of the views of the others. It may only be used once by each judge, and cannot be used again for any other participants yet to audition in that year's competition. The hosts of Britain's Got Talent may also press
4366-478: The Christmas Spectacular, following an accident that left him recovering from a back injury. He was replaced in these episodes by Ashley Banjo . In 2022, it was reported that Walliams would be leaving the show after ten series. In 2023, it was announced that Bruno Tonioli would replace Walliams. The first series was aired during 2007, between 9 and 17 June. Auditions for this series took place within
4484-560: The E4 channel with 601,938 viewers and was repeated on Channel 4. The show was axed after one series. Holden has appeared in several stage musicals, and in 2004 was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the West End production of Thoroughly Modern Millie , which closed earlier than expected in June 2004. Holden finished playing
4602-513: The Golden Buzzer for a participant, but must also adhere to the same rule. Filming for each series begins during the Judges' Auditions, and always consists of recording taken from each venue of auditions and backstage scenes within the wings and waiting area. Footage taken by production staff is then edited into a series of episodes consisting of montages of scenes from multiple venues, consisting of
4720-452: The acts are divided up between the semi-finals that the series will have; usually eight in each series, except for the sixth to tenth series which had nine acts per semi-final. While in Series 1–13 the acts are called to the theatre to find out if they made it through, in season 14 the successful acts received a phone call from the judges and from season 15 onwards, the acts finding out their result
4838-424: The broadcast of each series of Britain's Got Talent , with episodes airing after each episode of the main programme, and featuring regular appearances by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly along with the judges for the respective year. The format was based on those of former spin-off programmes such as The Xtra Factor (the companion show of The X Factor ), but with notable differences depending on what stage of
Britain's Got Talent series 2 - Misplaced Pages Continue
4956-499: The broadcaster also announced that the show would be accompanied by a sister show on ITV2 , titled Britain's Got More Talent , with Stephen Mulhern as its presenter. Each year's competition begins with two rounds of auditions. The first round, referred to as "open auditions", are held across several different cities around the UK during the Autumn months, within small venues that are attended by
5074-418: The broadcaster's programme, eventually defecting to Channel 4 to continue hosting his teatime show and effectively putting plans for the show on hold. In a 2010 interview, O'Grady commented about the row by stating: "I did the pilot for Britain's Got Talent – which was originally going to be called Paul O'Grady's Got Talent . But I told the producers they were having a joke if they thought I would front
5192-514: The cities of Manchester , Birmingham , London and Cardiff , between January and February earlier that year. The series had three live semi-finals, featuring a total of twenty-four semi-finalists, all of whom were vying for a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance and claiming a £100,000 cash prize. The series was won by opera singer Paul Potts and the results of the other finalists were not announced. The second series
5310-642: The comedian Les Dennis in June 1995. The couple separated temporarily in 2000 after Holden's affair with actor Neil Morrissey . Holden and Dennis separated permanently in December 2002 and divorced in 2003. Around this time, she alleged that she was sexually assaulted by an "unnamed famous comedian" at a public event. In 2006 Holden gave birth to her first child conceived with her then fiancé, record producer Chris Hughes. She married Hughes at Babington House , Somerset, on 10 December 2008 with former Formula One racing driver David Coulthard acting as best man. After
5428-425: The competition the spin-off was airing. While the auditions stage was being broadcast, its sister show focused on highlights of acts that couldn't be shown on the main show, with Mulhern operating in a similar manner to the main show's hosts (albeit with interviews of the participants before and after their performance). During live episodes, the sister show conducted live "after-show" episodes, featuring interviews with
5546-418: The contest was open to anyone regardless of their experience with the talent they chose to perform with. Britain%27s Got Talent Britain's Got Talent (often abbreviated to BGT ) is a televised British talent show competition, and part of the global Got Talent franchise created by Simon Cowell . Presented by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (colloquially known as Ant & Dec ), it
5664-569: The contest, following the success of the spin-off for America's Got Talent . His plan was to produce a contest under the same subtitle and format as the American spin-off, focusing on bringing the best talent from across the Got Talent franchise (many from the British edition), to compete for a cash prize and the title of "World Champion" in the British public's opinion. Both the contest and the production of
5782-460: The documentary The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song on ITV. On 6 July 2012 Holden guest presented an episode of Lorraine , standing in for Lorraine Kelly . She returned to guest present six further episodes of the show from 4 to 8 April and on 4 July 2016. In 2012, Holden presented talent show Superstar on ITV. On 24 March 2014 she hosted an episode of the Channel 4 show Dispatches about
5900-477: The end of the year. The series was won by magician Richard Jones , with singer Wayne Woodward coming in second, and dance group Boogie Storm placing third. The eleventh series was aired during 2017, between 15 April and 3 June. The final was originally planned for 4 June, but this was moved forward to avoid it clashing with the One Love Manchester benefit concert that day. The series had two major changes:
6018-584: The final (referred to as the Judges' Wildcard). The show allowed the public to vote between the three most popular eliminated acts, and the one with the highest number of votes advanced into the final. This act is referred to as the Public Wildcard. Auditions took place within Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and London. The latter three cities held open auditions in late 2014 along with Newcastle, Cardiff, Portsmouth , Leeds , Norwich and Bristol . The winner of
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#17331425611436136-403: The finals, through a private vote conducted once the semi-finals are completed. The result of this vote is announced prior to the final's broadcast. The format was later expanded to allow for a Wildcard to be chosen by the public from any eliminated semi-finalist they liked in the ninth and tenth series respectively, though this format was dropped before the eleventh series. For the eleventh series,
6254-452: The first day of the Manchester auditions, leading to Ant & Dec filling in for him. He was also absent for the final day of the London auditions. In the tenth series in 2016, Cowell was late for an audition, and was temporarily replaced by Walliams' mother Kathleen (who was in attendance that day). In September, October and December 2020, Cowell was absent from the series 14 live rounds and
6372-597: The first series agreed to return for the second series, leading to no significant changes in the panel or hosts. Of the participants that took part, only forty made it past this stage and into the five live semi-finals, with eight appearing in each one, and ten of these acts making it into the live final. The following below lists the results of each participant's overall performance in this series: Key: Winner | Runner-Up | Finalist | Semi-finalist The second series of Britain's Got Talent faced criticism for
6490-693: The first was the total number of semi-finalist reduced to forty with eight per each semi-final, as it had been prior to the sixth series; the second was the Judges' vote being dropped, with the two semi-finalists with the highest number of public votes moving on into the final. In addition, the live episodes were broadcast from Elstree Studios , owing to the closure of the previous site. Auditions were held within Salford , Birmingham, London and Blackpool. The latter two cities held open auditions in late 2016, along with Peterborough, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Kingston upon Hull , Lincoln , Reading , Manchester and Luton . The series
6608-553: The fourteenth series in attendance. Amanda Holden , Alesha Dixon and David Walliams were joined by Ashley Banjo from the series' live rounds, while Simon Cowell continued his recovery from a back injury earlier that year. On 10 October 2022, ITV announced a new one-off special of the main Britain's Got Talent show. Similar to Britain's Got Talent: The Champions , but only magicians taking part. The Ultimate Magician featured magicians from previous series of BGT and from across
6726-503: The fourth series and was unable to attend the Birmingham auditions, leading to Louis Walsh stepping in as a guest judge in his place until he recovered. In 2011, the panel saw its first major change, when Morgan revealed he was leaving the show to travel to America and begin filming of his new show . After Cowell announced he wouldn't be present for the fifth series' auditions due to his busy schedule with launching The X Factor USA ,
6844-521: The initial auditions. KSI will also appear as a guest judge, filling in for both Cowell and Bruno Tonoli . In November 2024, it was announced that the auditions will be entirely filmed in Blackpool and not in London for the first in the show's history. Britain's Got More Talent (often shortened to BGMT ) was a companion sister show that was broadcast on ITV2 from 9 June 2007 to 2 June 2019 and hosted by Stephen Mulhern . Each series coincided with
6962-449: The involvement of professional performers in the contest. Media outlets revealed evidence that the group Escala , who took part in the contest in 2008, had previously been involved as guest performers for a wrap party on The X Factor in 2007. ITV refuted allegations that this was unfair conduct against other participants, by arguing that the programme's researchers applied the same process and treatment to everyone who auditioned, and that
7080-432: The judges from the first series – Simon Cowell , Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan – and Ant & Dec returned to co-host the second series, along with Stephen Mulhern returning to front the second series of Britain's Got More Talent on ITV2 . The second series was won by street dancer George Sampson , with dance duo Signature finishing in second place and opera singer Andrew Johnston third. During its broadcast,
7198-409: The judges vote was removed and all of the finalists from the semi-finals were chosen by the public, with the top two participants in the public vote advancing to the final. Following criticism over the format change, the judges vote was reinstated for the following series. The finals operate in a similar manner to the semi-finals, though all participants in this stage compete primarily to win votes from
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#17331425611437316-477: The live final (apart from the first series) was shown in two parts, the first part featured the live performances from the finalists with the results announced in a separate broadcast later that evening. From series four until series thirteen, the semi-finals were altered and adopted the two show format featuring a 90 minute performance episode and a half-hour results episode, with another ITV programme, usually an episode of Coronation Street , airing inbetween whilst
7434-415: The majority vote securing their place in the finals. In the case of a tied vote, as of series 5, the semi-finalist placed 2nd in the public vote advances into the final. In addition to these votes, semi-finalists can also secure a place in the finals if chosen as a "Wildcard". Introduced in the sixth series, the format allows the judges to choose any eliminated semi-finalist to be appointed as their Wildcard in
7552-406: The most memorable and talented acts over the past fourteen series of the programme's history (despite initial concerns that such a special would not be filmed due to the British government instituting a second lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during October that year). The special aired on 25 December 2020, hosted by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , with the judging panel from
7670-482: The most notable auditions (the best, worst and funniest made) – along with interviews with some of the notable participants that auditioned, and recorded backstage scenes of the hosts overseeing the performances from the wings. This stage takes place after the auditions have been completed, and is also referred to as Deliberation Day, in which the judges look through the acts that have successfully made it to this stage, and begin whittling them down to those who would stand
7788-733: The national Heart Breakfast radio show with Jamie Theakston on weekday mornings. Holden grew up in Bishop's Waltham and took an interest in acting and musical theatre while at school. She played the title role in the musical stage show Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2004, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award . Her acting credits on television include The Grimleys (1998–2001), Kiss Me Kate (1999–2001), Cutting It (2002–2004), Wild at Heart (2006–2008), and Big Top (2009). Holden has also presented various television shows for ITV, including The Sun Military Awards (2009–2014), Superstar (2012), This Morning (2014–2015, 2017), Text Santa (2015), and Give
7906-493: The panel was replaced with comedian Michael McIntyre and former America's Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff , to join Holden during the auditions. Walsh returned as a guest judge for the London auditions, due to Hasselhoff's commitments with a pantomime at that time. When the series entered its live episodes, Cowell returned to oversee the acts as a fourth judge. In October 2011, both Hasselhoff and McIntyre declined to return for
8024-471: The performance can be ultimately terminated if all buzzers are used. Because all semi-finalists are performing live, they are given time to prepare in advance with rehearsals, while production staff can provide assistance to those in preparing their performance. In the case of those conducting routines that incorporate a level of risk, precautions are put in place, including paramedics and sometimes set up off-site venues for performances to use – either live or for
8142-404: The previous series, the cash prize was reduced to £250,000, with the series featuring auditions within five cities: Birmingham, London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester. The series was won by shadow theatre troupe Attraction , with comedian Jack Carroll coming in second, and opera duo Richard & Adam placing third. The eighth series aired during 2014, between 12 April and 7 June. This series
8260-487: The producers made plans to alter the show's format to allow for a fourth judge when the third series was set to begin, with plans for Kelly Brook to be the new judge on the panel. Less than a week after the series began, this change was dropped on the belief that this alteration to the show's format would complicate it, resulting in Brook being credited as a guest judge for that series. In 2010, Cowell fell ill during filming of
8378-427: The producers. The second round, referred to as the "Judges' Auditions", are held the following year during January and February, within a select set of cities (these have commonly included Cardiff , Glasgow , Manchester , Birmingham and London ). They take place within a theatre or convention hall, whose venue is chosen primarily for having the necessary facilities for handling large volumes of contestants. The venue
8496-470: The programme began in Spring of that year, with the spin-off's planned broadcast date announced in the 2019 series finale of Britain's Got Talent . The spin-off was filmed between 24 and 30 July, premiering on 31 August 2019, with the contest being won by dancing duo Twist and Pulse . On 1 December 2020, ITV confirmed that it was making a one-off Christmas special of Britain's Got Talent , which would feature
8614-443: The programme eventually premiered on 9 June 2007. Every year, contestants of any age can audition for the televised contest with whatever talent they wish to demonstrate. During auditions, participants seek to impress a panel of judges – presently consisting of Cowell, Amanda Holden , Alesha Dixon , and Bruno Tonioli – in order to secure a place in the live rounds of the contest. Once in the live rounds, participants seek to impress
8732-404: The programme was due to air, leading to Morgan being part of the panel as originally planned, and actress Amanda Holden joining him and Cowell as a judge; Hasselhoff would later join the panel for the programme's fifth series after being a part of the panel for America's Got Talent , while Cowell later employed Cole to be a replacement for Sharon Osbourne on The X Factor . At the same time,
8850-423: The programme, containing information about who is performing – whether a single person, a pair or trio of performers, and a small or large group – personal details regarding age, hometown and background, what experience they have for their talent, and the nature of the act that will be performed. Eligibility for the contest is determined by what information is submitted for researchers to double-check, such information
8968-622: The public and judges to secure votes, in order to reach the final and a chance to win a cash prize and a place within that year's performances for the Royal Variety Performance before members of the British Royal Family . As of 2024 , the show has had seventeen winners, ranging from musicians and singers to variety acts, magicians, dancers, and comedians. On average, each series of Britain's Got Talent draws viewing figures of 6 to 10 million viewers. The show's live final in
9086-416: The public vote took place. The live final during this period (apart from the fifth series) was merged into a single bumper edition, often running for around two and a half hours. Beginning from the third series, guest performers appeared on the show to give a performance; from the following series, when the semi-finals adopted the two show format, the results episode always featured a guest performer slot before
9204-418: The public with either a new routine, or on some occasions, an enhanced version of their original audition performance. The judges can still buzz and give opinions on the performance they view, but have little impact on the public's voting intention. Once the public vote has been completed (once all finalists have performed and the votes verified and counted), the hosts announce who is placed as the top two acts of
9322-504: The role Princess Fiona in the original West End production of Shrek The Musical , which began on 6 May 2011. The show opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 14 June 2011. She starred with Nigel Lindsay , Richard Blackwood , and Nigel Harman . Holden departed the show on 3 October 2011, ten weeks earlier than planned, to focus on her unborn child and was replaced by Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh . For this role, Holden won
9440-490: The same site used for The X Factor . Following its closure in 2016, the show relocated its live episodes to Elstree Studios in 2017, before moving to Hammersmith Apollo from the following year, apart from 2020. For the first four series after the show began in June 2007, the judging panel consisted of music executive and television producer Simon Cowell , television personality and actress Amanda Holden , and newspaper editor and tabloid journalist Piers Morgan . In 2009,
9558-420: The secondary community school Swanmore College . At age 16, she relocated to Bournemouth , before moving to South London to attend Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts . Holden's first television appearance was as a contestant on the game show Blind Date in 1991. From 2006 to 2008, Holden appeared as Sarah Trevanian in three series of ITV's Wild at Heart co-starring Stephen Tompkinson . In 1997, she
9676-422: The semi-finalists and eventual finalists, and talks with the judges. The series also aired a set of compilation episodes featuring the best and worst auditions from that year's contest, titled Britain's Got Talent: Best and Worst . On 7 October 2019, Simon Cowell announced that Britain's Got More Talent would be shifted onto online platforms and thus provide more focus towards Britain's Got Talent . The decision
9794-511: The series proved to be a greater ratings success, averaging 10.2 million viewers. ITV was forced to defend the programme during its second series, after viewers criticised the involvement of a professional group in the contest. Following open auditions held the previous year, the Judge's Auditions took place early in 2008, within London , Manchester , Birmingham , Cardiff , Glasgow and Blackpool . With
9912-591: The series was trainer and dog duo Jules O'Dwyer & Matisse , with magician Jamie Raven coming second, and Welsh choir Côr Glanaethwy placing third. The tenth series was aired during 2016, between 9 April to 28 May. Auditions were held within Liverpool, Birmingham and London, with all three holding open auditions in late 2015 along with Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester. It was the last series to hold live episodes within The Fountain Studios , before its closure at
10030-532: The series' audition episodes, which had been filmed during January and February that year. Auditions were held within Manchester, Blackpool and London. Two of these cities held open auditions in 2017, along with a number of locations within the United Kingdom and Ireland (including Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dublin and Inverness). The series was won by stand-up comedian Lost Voice Guy , with comedy singer/pianist Robert White coming second, and singer Donchez Dacres placing third. The thirteenth series
10148-508: The seventh and eighth series, the live final aired a week after the semi-finals had been completed, and in the fourteenth series, where due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the semi-final episodes were all pre-recorded and aired weekly on Saturday nights, with the live final following a week after the semi-finals had finished. In the first three series, the live semi-finals were aired as single 90 minute editions featuring both performances and results whilst
10266-406: The show announced on 2 January 2012 that they would be replaced by David Walliams and Alesha Dixon . They joined both Holden and Cowell for the new series, the latter having announced he would be returning as a full-time judge on the show. Holden was unable to attend some of the auditions due to her pregnancy that year, leading to Carmen Electra stepping in as a guest judge for these. The series
10384-497: The show attempted to bring in a new way of voting for the semi-finals via a mobile app, but this was suspended for the series after it suffered technical problems during the first live semi-final. This series featured an open audition in London, along with inviting other acts to audition via YouTube , before holding Judges' Auditions within Birmingham, London, Manchester, Cardiff, Blackpool and Edinburgh . As both McIntyre and Hasselhoff announced in late 2011 they wouldn't be returning,
10502-702: The show in 2007. She has appeared on British series such as Smack the Pony , EastEnders , Hearts and Bones , and Cutting It . In 2009, Holden appeared as Lizzie, the Ring Mistress, in the BBC circus sitcom Big Top . In April 2009 it was reported the US network CBS had offered Holden a job as one-time guest presenter on The Early Show , a daytime talk show. On 1 June 2009 she appeared with regular presenters Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez . Holden has since signed with CBS as
10620-472: 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. Amanda Holden Amanda Louise Holden (born 16 February 1971) is an English media personality, actress and singer. Since 2007, she has been a judge on the television talent competition show Britain's Got Talent on ITV . She also co-hosts
10738-414: The show's sponsorship deal with the supermarket chain at the time. The series was won by boy band Collabro , with opera singer Lucy Kay coming in second, and rapper duo Bars & Melody placing third. The ninth series was aired during 2015, between 11 April and 31 May. The "Wildcard" feature was updated this series, along with the judges being able to put forth an eliminated act from the semi-finals into
10856-446: The sixteenth series returned. This series featured a total of nine Golden Buzzers, the most the show had ever seen. The final took place on 2 June, with singer Sydnie Christmas winning. Magician Jack Rhodes and dance duo Abigail & Afronitaaa came in second and third respectively. The eighteenth series will air from February 2025. Following the death of Liam Payne , which occurred days prior, Simon Cowell will be absent for some of
10974-510: The sixth series, while Cowell announced he was returning full-time to the show. On 2 January 2012, the producers revealed its decision to adopt the use of a fourth judge for the programme's format, announcing that both Cowell and Holden would now be joined by David Walliams and Alesha Dixon for the sixth series (with the latter moving to the talent show after deciding to leave BBC 's Strictly Come Dancing ). During filming in February, Holden
11092-416: The success of America's Got Talent the previous year, ITV announced their intentions for a British series of Got Talent . Their announcement revealed changes to the original plan for the programme, with Ant & Dec revealed to be the hosts for the new programme. While Cowell remained as part of the judging panel, the new plan intended for David Hasselhoff and Cheryl Cole . However, both resigned before
11210-426: The success of the previous series, the production team decided to expand the show's filming schedule to include more episodes. This led to the addition of two more episodes for auditions and two more live episodes for semi-finals, in turn leading to a direct increase in the number of semi-finalists that the judges could move beyond the auditions stage of the competition. Both the judges and the presenters who took part in
11328-453: The surprise return of a participant from a previous series' contest, operating under a veiled alias; and the contest being won by the oldest participant to take part. The series was won by singer Colin Thackery, with mentalist Marc Spelmann (under the stage name of "X") coming second, and magician Ben Hart placing third. The fourteenth series was aired during 2020, but in two parts as a result of
11446-408: The time is up, or all the judges use their buzzers. Each judge has one that they can use to signal their dislike of the performance if they believe it to be unconvincing, boring or completely unacceptable for the contest (although a buzzer can be retracted if the judge felt they used it mistakenly, such as if the participant's performance did something unexpected that changed their opinion of them). Once
11564-601: The treatment for stillbirths and miscarriages. From 22 September to 18 December 2014, Holden filled in as a co-host on This Morning with Phillip Schofield during Holly Willoughby 's maternity leave. She took a short break in January and February 2015 to record the Britain's Got Talent auditions. Christine Lampard stood in for Holden during this time, before the latter returned to the show from 2 March until 17 July 2015. She returned to This Morning in 2017, to co-present numerous episodes with Ben Shephard . Holden presented
11682-464: The use of a virtual audience and social distancing; all episodes were aired weekly; and all semi-finals were pre-recorded, with the voting system changed as a direct result for these rounds. Before the first semi-final was to be filmed, Simon Cowell sustained an injury following an accident in August, causing him to be absent for the rest of the series, and leading to him being replaced by Ashley Banjo as
11800-404: The vote period is ended and the results counted and fully verified, the semi-finalist with the highest total of votes is announced as the winner of the semi-final and secures their place in the final. The second vote involves the judges and takes place after the result, in which they vote between the two semi-finalists placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the public vote, with the participant receiving
11918-482: The vote, before revealing the winner who received the most votes from the public. Finalists who win receive a cash prize, and a place in the Royal Variety Performance later that year. For the show's scheduling, the live episodes are usually arranged to take place over the course of a week, semi-finals for each weekday, and the live final aired on either the Saturday or Sunday of the weekend. Exceptions to this were in both
12036-498: The voting closed. In series fourteen, when the semi-finals aired weekly, each semi-final episode aired as a single two-hour edition. For the fifteenth series, the semi-finals returned to being shown live across a single week, but maintained the single two-hour episode format from the previous series. Until the tenth series, live episodes were broadcast from The Fountain Studios in Wembley ,
12154-450: Was a cast member of pioneering Channel 5 sketch show, "We Know Where You Live" alongside Simon Pegg , Sanjeev Bhaskar , Ella Kenion, Fiona Allen and Jeremy Fowlds. Holden's other TV credits include three series of the comedy Kiss Me Kate with Caroline Quentin and Chris Langham , three series of ITV's The Grimleys , one series of Mad About Alice , Celeb with Harry Enfield , BBC series Hearts and Bones with Damian Lewis ,
12272-485: Was aired during 2008, between 12 April and 31 May, and featured notable differences. Not only did the series run for much longer, auditions took place in Blackpool and Glasgow , the latter following complaints that Scotland hadn't been visited during the previous series (along with Manchester, Birmingham, London and Cardiff). In addition, the show had five live semi-finals, featuring a total of forty semi-finalists. The series
12390-411: Was aired during 2019, between 6 April and 2 June. Following his absence from the previous series' live episodes, Anthony McPartlin made his return to Britain's Got Talent this year. Auditions were held across the same cities as before, including London and Manchester. This series saw three notable events – the withdrawal of an act from the live semi-finals, despite securing a place through their audition;
12508-458: Was announced Holden would replace Emma Bunton as co-host of Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston , at the same time as it went national on 3 June. In 2019, Holden signed a recording contract with Virgin EMI Records . In 2020 she released her debut studio album, Songs from My Heart , through Universal Music . It reached number four on the UK Albums Chart . In July 2009, Holden became
12626-464: Was inspired by popular British variety talent shows Opportunity Knocks (1949–1990) and New Faces (1973–1988). To showcase his idea, a pilot episode was filmed in September 2005, with the judging panel consisting of Cowell, Fern Britton (at the time, presenter of This Morning ), as well as tabloid journalist Piers Morgan . The pilot was not broadcast on television until it was shown as part of
12744-427: Was introduced called the "Wildcard". This meant, the judges could select one of the acts eliminated in the semi-finals, to return and compete in the finals. The show also increased the number of semi-finalist for the semi-finals to forty-five, with nine acts per semi-final, and the number of judges for the entire contest to four. The previous series also featured four judges, albeit for the live episodes only. In addition,
12862-399: Was later produced and broadcast in 2019 following the success of the American edition's spin-off America's Got Talent: The Champions . Britain's Got Talent is contracted to run until 2025. The show's format was devised by X Factor creator and Sony Music executive Simon Cowell, who was involved in the creation of other Got Talent programmes across several different countries. He
12980-463: Was made due to changes in viewing habits from the sister show's target audience. Its replacement, Britain's Got Talent: Unseen , premiered on the ITV Hub in 2020, following the airing of the first episode of series 14 of the main show. "Unseen" did not return in 2022, which meant the main show had no companion show at all for the first time ever. In 2019, Simon Cowell opted to create a spin-off edition of
13098-683: Was photographed underwater by Zena Holloway. She posed as a mermaid in an awareness campaign for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to highlight the "disgusting treatment" of orca at SeaWorld . Holden has also posed nude for PETA in a campaign to promote vegetarianism . In 2020 Holden raised money for the National Health Service (NHS) during the COVID-19 pandemic . In 1992 while they were both appearing in The Sound of Music Holden dated George Asprey . She married
13216-622: Was the British spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest . She awarded UK's 12 jury points to France. Holden fronted the breast cancer awareness campaign of Everton F.C. . She is a patron of the football club's charity. In September 2011 Holden was sponsored to bake a cake for every child in the Great Ormond Street Hospital . On 13 April 2008 Holden ran the London Marathon in four hours and thirteen minutes for
13334-623: Was the first to introduce the "Golden Buzzer", and for the first time since the first series, auditions were not held in Scotland. Instead they were held in Northern Ireland within Belfast, along with Cardiff, London, Birmingham and Manchester. Edinburgh joined these cities to hold open auditions in late 2013, along with Blackpool and Brighton . Additional open auditions were held in various local branches of Morrisons within "Talent Spot" tents, owing to
13452-408: Was unable to attend the London auditions, due to having given birth to her daughter at that time which had led to her suffering some after-effects from her pregnancy. As a result, actress and model Carmen Electra served as a guest judge. In subsequent series, the line-up remained as Cowell, Holden, Walliams and Dixon. No further incidents occurred except for the eighth series in 2014 when Cowell missed
13570-472: Was won by dance troupe Diversity , with singer Susan Boyle coming in second, and saxophonist Julian Smith placing third. It is the highest watched series in the history of Britain's Got Talent , attracting an average of over 13.3 million viewers. The fourth series was aired during 2010, between 17 April and 5 June. A single episode of this series, intended for airing on 22 May, was pushed back to 23 May in order to avoid it clashing with live coverage of
13688-498: Was won by pianist Tokio Myers , with magician Issy Simpson coming second, and stand-up comedian Daliso Chaponda placing third. The twelfth series was aired during 2018, between 14 April and 3 June. Following the previous series, the Judges' vote was brought back into the show's format, while the live episodes were aired from Hammersmith Apollo and presented solely by Declan Donnelly. Although Anthony McPartlin had stepped down from his TV commitments in March 2018, he still appeared in
13806-420: Was won by street-dancer George Sampson , with dual dance group Signature coming in second, and singer Andrew Johnston placing third. The third series was aired during 2009, between 11 April and 30 May, with auditions held in the same five cities as before. Initially, a change in format included a fourth judge, Kelly Brook , on the panel, but this was later dropped a few days after auditions began. The series
13924-461: Was won by trainer and dog duo Ashleigh and Pudsey , with opera duo Jonathan and Charlotte coming in second, and Welsh boys choir Only Boys Aloud placing third. The seventh series was aired during 2013, between 13 April to 8 June. The show took a break on 29 May, due to live football coverage of England 's friendly with the Republic of Ireland . While the show retained the new features introduced in
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