Tony Cowell
As the 11th series gets into its stride, Tony Cowell finds out why Britain’s Got Talent remains one of his brother’s most successful TV ideas…
Why Simon won’t change the panel
The current BGT panel is all about chemistry, and Simon knows only too well that it would be foolish to change a winning formula.
Amanda has been on the show since the very first series, and fully deserves her place. As Simon told me, ‘If I told Amanda she’d have to judge the show for another 10 years, she would be the happiest person in the world!’
Alesha Dixon brings a classy musical knowledge and knows how to judge, while David Walliams plays the camp comedian, and is the only person I know who can embarrass Simon and get away with it!
But let’s not forget Ant and Dec – they’re so quintessentially British, and I think they’re a key part of the show’s popularity. In my opinion, you couldn’t do BGT without either a live audience or Ant and Dec.
The only change I see coming is swapping baby Eric for Simon on the panel. Surely that time can’t be too far away!
Pyjama power
It makes me smile to recall our childhood, and I reckon that was when Simon first had the idea for what would become Britain’s Got Talent.
He hated Sunday nights because he had school the next morning, but he’d sit on the sofa in his blue-and-whitestriped pyjamas watching TV with our mum, Julie. And what was he watching? The primetime variety show Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
Years later, when the two of us were writing a book together, he reflected on the thinking behind his most successful show.
‘Around the time BGT was conceived, Fame Academy was on the BBC, and I thought it was dreadful. In fact, I thought I’d rather watch dancing dogs – and that suddenly became the germ of the idea for Britain’s Got Talent.
‘As kids, Tony, we were brought up watching variety shows, and I wanted to bring back that sort of thing but
make it a bit crazier.
‘The show has its roots in the old tradition of British music hall, and that’s why I thought it would work – people of Mum’s generation could relate to it.
‘Now, though, I think the show appeals to all ages because it’s a bit mad!’
Not surprisingly, years later, BGT became Mum’s favourite show. She always came to the live final with us, and would pick her favourite act. She was very annoyed the night Susan Boyle didn’t win!
BGT is now one of the world’s most successful TV formats, with franchises in more than 60 countries.
Watching the first two shows of this new season, I can totally understand why. It’s fun, family-friendly TV – the sort of show we all need.
With or without his pyjamas, the boy is a genius!
Simon’s Golden Buzzer act
The standard of talent this year already looks way above average, so when Simon pressed his buzzer for 15-yearold singer Sarah Ikumu, he clearly saw the bigger picture.
Sarah blew the roof off with her stunning version of Jennifer Hudson’s And I Am Telling You. It was one of the most sensational auditions ever seen on the show.
Simon’s challenge now is perhaps to ensure she chooses a song more befitting her age in the live shows, to attract the younger voters in the final.
Either way, Simon has a world-class singer ready to sign to his Syco record label.
My money is on the Missing People Choir, which epitomises what BGT is all about. Where else on TV would you see people singing highly charged, emotional tributes to their lost loved ones? If they put out a single now, they could have a massive hit, and I believe they could be this year’s surprise winner.
Mystic Amanda and Alesha predict…
Last year, for the first time ever, a magician won BGT. Lance Corporal Richard Jones was the act in question and, to be honest, it was a bit of a shock. Show producers tell me that, following Richard’s win, they were inundated with applications from magicians.
Amanda Holden correctly predicted last year’s win, but this year both she and Alesha are convinced a comedian will triumph, which, again, would be a first.
No doubt they’re backing eight-year-old comedian Ned Woodman, who hit the headlines when one of his jokes compared Amanda to a ‘talking dog’…
The fashion face-off
The BGT glam squads will be busily picking outfits and preparing to preen Alesha and Amanda for the live shows.
The pair’s daring outfits may have prompted a flurry of complaints to Ofcom last year but, as they say, if you’ve got it, flaunt it – and these girls have definitely got it!
Alesha likes an edgier and more unusual look, baring her perfect pins, while Amanda is poised to display daring Hollywood glamour, showing off her gym-honed body.
They always pull out all the stops in the fashion stakes, and this year will be no exception. Cue the angry mob! Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV on Saturday at 8pm