BUZZING TO GET GOING...
As new judge Bruno Tonioli settles into his Britain’s Got Talent role, GEMMA DUNN finds out why viewers need to prepare to be surprised, captivated, and moved to tears by this year’s show-stopping acts
SIMON COWELL has two hopes for Britain’s Got Talent’s 16th series.
One, “to make a show which people hopefully will enjoy watching,” he starts, “and, secondly, to give whoever it is that opportunity, hopefully, for things to get better in their lives after they’ve auditioned”.
With many a successful series in the bag, and the promise that this year’s variety spectacular will be bigger and better than ever, it seems likely the head judge – and creator of the long-running Got Talent franchise – will get his wish.
“I think things have changed a lot from where we first started, as it always used to be about the end prize,” reflects Simon, 63, who has starred on the show since its 2007 inception.
“I would say now that your first audition is so important because of what happens, virally, that even just that single audition can make a massive difference to your life.”
With more golden buzzers than ever, and surprises along the way, this year’s audition stages are wide open for the many talented acts vying for a place in the live semi-finals.
But who will follow in the footsteps of 2022 winner, comedian Axel Blake, and scoop the £250,000 prize and a spot at the Royal Variety Performance?
New to the judging process is Bruno Tonioli, who will join the allstar panel in place of David Walliams, alongside returning favourites Simon, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon.
No stranger to voicing his opinion – Strictly Come Dancing fans will be well-versed in the Italian choreographer’s flamboyant style, having spent 18 years judging the BBC dance contest – Bruno is certainly pleased with his appointment. “Honestly, I’ve had such a good time!,” the 67-year-old reveals, admitting there were some first-day nerves, exacerbated by him pressing his golden buzzer “at the wrong time”.
“It’s completely new for me, I told Simon, ‘I never watched the show before’. But I never watch anything I’m in, I never even watched Strictly or Dancing with the Stars!
“I want to feel free to give it my own personal spin, not copy what someone before me has done,” he explains. “And the truth is that the talent really excites me because I love watching new talent.
“This is like live theatre. It’s a proper variety show like we used to get – and I always loved that,” he follows, his voice going due to “screaming for six hours every day”.
“Let me tell you, some of the talent we’ve seen during auditions... absolutely incredible.”
“It feels more homegrown
[the talent, this year],” teases Amanda, 52, who, like Simon, has been a part of the show since the beginning.
“It feels like stuff people would be doing in their bedrooms and less professionals this year, but the standard is still exceptionally high.”
As for who we can expect, “we’ve had a lot of choirs this year,” she adds. “There’s a men’s choir, which is just brilliant. I enjoyed the fact
that they were a group of men who were coming on for a good singsong.
“For the first time in a long time I have absolutely no idea who might win, it really could be anyone.”
“I think we’ve done really well,” says Simon. “I was thinking about who’s going in each show and I was thinking, ‘Actually, we’ve got really good acts’. Importantly, they’re really interesting people, acts we’ve never seen before.
“A show like this is important right now because you’ve got to create two hours of TV which is going to make people feel good,” he reasons. “It’s everyone watching this show, from kids to grandparents, and I love that.
“You should get emotional, you should laugh out loud, and some of the stuff we have this year, and I’m not necessarily talking about the comedians, it’s really funny.”
This many years in, exactly what is Simon looking for in the auditionees?
“Well, number one, an act you haven’t seen before. Or if it’s a similar kind of act, they’ve got to be better,” he says. “It’s always great to be surprised. I really like it when someone’s brilliant and they’ve got a regular day job because that obviously adds an extra level to what they’re doing.
“And to have people talk about the act afterwards, that’s hugely important.”
“Every year I want a different type of variety act to win,” offers Alesha, 43, who returns to the fold for an 11th time. “I don’t ever go into it thinking, ‘Right. I want to see the next best street dance act’. I go into it thinking, ‘I want somebody to use this platform to have a moment to hopefully change their life and to have a career, in whatever shape or form that comes in’.”
It’s authenticity that impresses Amanda, she says, warning: “I can see through everything. It’s helpful when they’re a decent person or a humble person, or they don’t really realise what they have.
“That’s what pulls at me, if I think, ‘God, that’s amazing because they’re not quite sure if they are good or not’.
“It’s as much about the actual person as it is about their act.”
“And it’s that good old-fashioned sense of entertainment and that idea of having dreams and hopes,” Alesha suggests. “Britain’s Got Talent is one of the only shows, I think, that does that and does it so well, where somebody’s dream can come true.”
Standing in the wings, ready to cheer on – or console – the acts brave enough to brace the stage, is once again incomparable hosting duo Ant and Dec.
“You never quite know what you’re going to get – and this year doesn’t disappoint,” says Dec, 47.
As for Bruno: “He brings great energy and he obviously really knows his stuff when it comes to judging dancing groups, but, surprisingly, he knows a lot about music and gives very good notes,” adds Ant, also 47.
Does Bruno think viewers will see a different side to him?
“Well, what we see is a complete range of entertainment, singing, dancing, comedians, magicians, acrobats, you name it,” he responds. “So you can draw from your experience in the industry, which fortunately I have plenty of, because I’ve done everything!
“I work with the best in everything – best singers, best actors, best comedians, I choreograph big numbers, so I know what I’m talking about.
“So I guess, in a way, people will see more of who I am because I can show more of what I’ve done in my life.
“I found that very exciting.”
For the first time in a long time I have absolutely no idea who might win, it really could be anyone BGT judge Amanda Holden
■ Britain’s Got Talent continues on ITV tonight at 7.45pm