Talented bunch
Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions is singing, dancing and entertaining its way to free-TV.
Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions
Season 1 Sundays (from 14 March) SABC2 (*192) 18:30
Simon Cowell has been there, done that and got the designer shirt as talent shows’ Mr Mean – and he’s got a new brainchild spun-off from his hit reality show Britain’s Got Talent (2007-now) and its various franchise spin-offs. “I looked at these acts, who came before us and dazzled us with their skills and talents, and thought, ‘Hey I know, let’s take the best of the best and put them in their own show,” says 61-year-old Simon, who serves as head judge, creator and executive producer of the six-episode series that aired in 2019. “It gives them a platform to show how they have progressed with their performances from the platform that we originally gave them.”
BACK BEHIND THE DESK
Simon isn’t alone judging the show – and his co-judges are a multi-talented bunch in their own right. Alesha Dixon has been in showbiz since 1999 when she was part of girl rap group Mis-Teeq (2003 album Eye Candy), and 42-yearold Alesha says it was a no-brainer when Simon asked her to be part of the show. “Of course I said yes. They called, before they’d finished the pitch, I was already packing my bags to go to the set! I love talented people and while I’m a professional who’s had training and help, I’m astounded by the raw talent that’s hiding among the country.”
Amanda Holden started her career on a reality series way back in 1991 on love gameshow Blind Date (1985-now) and she knows what it takes to get on stage in front of people. “I like to think that I can connect with the performers perhaps better than the other judges and even our hosts (UK presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – aka Ant & Dec, who’ve hosted everything from kiddies show Byker Grove in 1989 to their variety show Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, 2002-now). I’ve been in their shoes but I’ve just been looking for love, these people are the real stars because they’ve got the skills and abilities that people like me can only dream of,” says the 50-yearold Amanda.
And then there’s David Walliams, arguably the most talented of the judging panel. The 49-year-old has written children’s books (The Boy In The Dress, 2008), acted since 1996 in everything from dramas and action shows, to variety and sketch shows like Mash And Peas (1996-1997) which he also created, scripted and executive produced. “I have been performing for years. I love live acts, tangible acts. There is nothing better for me than to see something live and in the moment. We’ve seen a lot of amazing people on the original series and I’m really excited to see what the cream of the crop have done since they were first on Britain’s Got Talent,” says David, who has been praised for the way he has mentored acts on the franchise.
BOOKED ACT
While there’s only been one season of Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, there is a contract for it to run until 2024. “It’s difficult because you need talent for the Champions spin-off,” says Simon, “and you can’t get that talent if you can’t air the original show (because of COVID-19). Hopefully we will get there.” Simon actually created this show before America’s Got Talent: The Champions (2019-2020) but it aired six months after the US première because of a schedule backlog in the UK.