BGT’S FINEST FIGHT AGAIN

Sometimes, in showbiz, it’s the unlikely ideas that turn into the powerhouses. The joy (and agony) is that you can never quite tell which ones are going to come up trumps.

Simon Cowell’s mind is going back 15 years, to the time he had a bright idea for a new television concept. On TV was ‘another music show where some singer was belting out a terrible version of a song. I remember thinking, “I can’t watch another one of these. I’d rather watch dogs dancing,”’ he laughs. ‘It was as simple as that.’

So an idea was formed for a variety show that could feature acrobats, unicyclists, dancing dogs, even – if he could find any.

Already seen as a man with the golden touch by TV execs, Simon made a pilot show and pitched his idea. It went down like a lead balloon. ‘It was a very difficult show to sell,’ says Simon. ‘A lot of it was our fault. The pilot was terrible. I think we filmed a 90-minute show and had about seven minutes of usable material. ITV took one look and said, “Forget it”.’

Luckily, Simon’s own influence stretched further than the UK and he sold it to an American network, NBC. ITV bought it back the following year.

But even then, the project wasn’t safe. ‘Three days before we went into production in the UK, ITV cancelled. So in desperation I said, “In that case I’m going to pay for it myself.”

‘I breathed a huge sigh of relief when we began filming. I could feel this buzz from the audience.’

Fast forward 13 years, and the Got Talent format has been rolled out in 72 countries and, in terms of the money it brings in, outranks even The X Factor.

Simon has just finished filming the new series, and it’s a big departure. Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions doesn’t feature a new crop of wannabes, but previous contestants returning to compete again. It’s a kind of ‘best of’, says Simon. ‘Although those coming back aren’t just the winners. They’re acts representing the show over the years.’

The idea of having a Champions edition was two-fold. Simon has long talked of the need to shake up the format to keep

viewers interested. Also, he says, he was curious to see how contestants who’d fluttered into our lives a decade ago would get on with a modern arena audience.

So which names will we recognise? Step forward Paul Potts, surely Britain’s most famous phone salesman-turned-operatic star, who won the first series, back when it was a jaw-dropping event to see an ordinary Joe open his mouth and silence an entire audience. Back too are winners like George Sampson (who won in 2008) and Collabro (2014). Then there are those who didn’t win, but captured attention nonetheless. Magician Ben Hart is back, as are dance acts Twist And Pulse and MerseyGirls.

But where is Susan Boyle – perhaps the greatest BGT success story of all time? ‘She’d been back on BGT performing a few times, and she’d done the US version of Champions earlier this year,’ says Simon. ‘I said we should save her for another year, because we’ll do this again.’

One of the most famous acts ever to come out of BGT was Ashleigh Butler and her dog Pudsey – Simon’s longed-for dancing dog act, who won in 2012. Ashleigh and Pudsey have lived the fairytale showbiz success story, and Pudsey even starred in his own film.

Alas, there was a major stumbling block to their return this series – Pudsey died in 2017. Ashleigh has continued to perform, however, with Pudsey-lookalike Sully.

‘When I lost Pudsey I had to think if I wanted the whole act to go with him, but in the end I decided I wanted to give it a shot with Sully.’

You can see why. BGT opened up a showbiz career for Ashleigh and she now has her own dog-training business. ‘BGT certainly opened doors, and no one could have predicted that, but that’s the thing about the show. You never can tell.’

One of the zaniest acts that ever appeared was a hybrid of Greek and Irish dancing, a father-and-son combo who called themselves Stavros Flatley. Why? ‘Well, Stavros after the Harry Enfield character. The only Greek name we could be certain that people would know was Greek,’ says Demi Demetriou, owner of perhaps one of the most famous bellies in the business. ‘And Flatley, in tribute to dancer Michael Flatley.’

How we loved Demi and his 13year-old son Lagi. Today Demi still has the air of a man who can’t quite believe his luck. ‘It was supposed to be a joke, and look what happened. It makes my hair stand on end just thinking about it.’ Lagi is now 23 – but they are still very much a double-act. ‘You don’t have much hair left to stand on end,’ he reminds his father. What’s happened to the pair in the decade since they appeared is extraordinary. ‘We’ve performed on a yacht once owned by Jackie Onassis,’ says Demi. ‘ We’ve danced for the Queen and Prince Albert of Monaco. Rod Stewart has come up to say hi. We’ve even met Michael Flatley – three times.’

The craziest part is that Demi has no sense of rhythm. ‘ Lagi knows what he’s doing. I don’t have a clue. I can’t count with the music, so he just has to signal to me when to come on.’

As for Demi’s famous belly, it got less jiggly when his celebrity status led to a stint on reality show Sugar Free Farm in 2016. ‘I haven’t turned into Brad Pitt,’ he jokes. ‘The belly is still there. No one will see a six-pack.’

Thank goodness. Perhaps he can discuss bellies with his old mentor Simon. After going on a health kick over the past six months, Simon has lost two stone. His new vegan regime has seen him cut out meat, dairy and sugar, and limit carbs. The result?

‘I’m feeling better than I have done in years,’ he says. ‘And I

‘ITV saw the pilot show and said, “Forget it”’ SIMON COWELL

haven’t cheated. People have said I’ve had a gastric band. I can assure you I haven’t.’ It helps, though, that he has most of his meals made for him. ‘Yeah, I do have someone who does that for me, and it would be more difficult to do it myself.’

He does still cook, he says. What? ‘I do a very good smoked haddock with mash.’ You peel the potatoes yourself, Simon? ‘Yes, I do know how to peel a potato,’ he says.

In putting the new series together, Simon’s had a little extra help from an unlikely source – his son Eric, aged five. Eric helped him edit the series, which was pre- recorded. ‘What’s fabulous is watching him watch the acts. Some, like the comedians, go right over his head, but then they do mine too, so I think he has a very good idea of what works.’

Now Eric has an eye on the bright lights of showbiz himself. He and his friend Coco – the daughter of Simon’s ex Terri Seymour – are quite a double act. ‘They want to audition. Eric is already pestering me to let them have a go.’

ITV, tonight, 8pm