Alesha Dixon: ‘Sometimes, laughter’s the best way of coping’
Britain’s Got Talent is back – which means Alesha Dixon’s infectious giggle isn’t far behind…
Stunning, sassy, talented – just a few words that come to mind when you think of enviably gorgeous BGT judge, Alesha Dixon. The 41-year-old former Mis-Teeq singer (mum to Azura, six, and Anaya, one), brings true warmth and fun, as well as insight to the BGT judging panel, which also includes cheeky David Walliams, Amanda Holden – who’s been promoted to head judge in Simon Cowell’s absence, following his bike accident in LA – and Ashley Banjo. Here, the Hertfordshire-born star reveals how excited she is to be back on the hit show, what made her press that golden buzzer for comedian Nabil – and why entertainment is more important than ever…
Are you excited to be back then, Alesha?
It’s so exciting to get back to it! We were all texting each other, saying how much we’ve all missed each other and just genuinely couldn’t wait to work together again. In a way it almost makes it even more special to be doing the show. I remember when BGT went out, at that time we all thought, ‘ Wow, this is what people need. They need a bit of silliness and a bit of fun.’ At that time, it was all doom and gloom in the country. When the show came on, it was like, ‘Oh, this is a nice little treat on a Saturday night.’ Now I feel, going into the semi-final shows, people need that little pick-me-up, a bit of joy and some light, you know?
BGT
is filming in a studio, rather than a theatre. How does that impact the show’s vibe?
Now with social distancing in place, we have had to adapt. It’s different from what people are used to, but everyone’s working hard to make sure we still bring that special vibe to proceedings.
As a performer yourself, what is your advice to acts going out on-stage without a live studio audience?
We’ll be there being as loud as we possibly can be, and encouraging them. Even for me as performer, it’s a very hard one to predict, or to call how it’s going to go. I don’t actually know how I would feel if I walked out on stage and there was no one there to perform to, but I guess I’d just visualise the audience, at home. I would remember that there are still millions of people watching.
Does it make your role as judges a bit harder, then?
Yes, because the audience feeds off us, and we off them. I think, after years of experience of doing this, obviously our instincts will drive us in how we critique something. I think we’ll be very mindful and compassionate to the contestants – they are in a unique situation. That doesn’t mean that they get an easy time and don’t have to work as hard. If anything, we’d be like, ‘No, come on. You’ve got to really show us what you’re made of now, because you don’t have the audience, acting like a fifth judge.’ They don’t have them on their side.
Which acts are you looking forward to seeing again?
Everyone. It’s so weird, the series would have normally wrapped by now and you’d be shifting gear to prepare yourself for the next series. So, I’ve gone back and watched the entire series again, just for a little refresher. I want to make sure that I’ve got every act fresh in my mind.
How do you feel about your golden buzzer act, Nabil?
Nabil is pretty edgy. I knew that about him when I pressed my buzzer for him. I think comedians should be allowed to be a bit naughty and get away with things that we can’t, because we have to learn to have a sense of humour about things. That’s the best way of coping, through laughter, to just poke fun at things. It’s a massive moment for him. It will be interesting to watch.
Will standards be even higher in these live shows, as contestants have had more rehearsal time?
That’s a really good point – I hope that they’ve not become too complacent! Hopefully they’ve used this time to think about how to maximise the moment. So yeah, this could work in their favour. There are a few acts that have got potential to have a huge moment on the show. There’s so much more meaning in everything now, after all we’ve been through as a country. It’s given it a whole other layer. If they pitch it right, they get the right song, they’re going to tap into the emotion of the nation. And I think we could see some really powerful moments on the show, fingers crossed!
● Tune into BGT on Saturday on ITV at 8pm.