Britain’s Got Talent returned tonight for it’s 19th series, along with Ant and Dec, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, who are joined by newcomer KSI
Britain’s Got Talent fans have the same complaint minutes into first episode(Image: SYCO/THAMES TV/PA Wire
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Just minutes into the first episode of Britain’s Got Talent’s latest series, fans took to social media with the same complaint. The series began on 21 February, and as soon as the infamous golden buzzer was mentioned, viewers worried it would be ‘overused’.
At the start of the show, Ant and Dec were filmed addressing the audience and reminding everyone that the judges can send contestants straight through to the live semi-finals if they press the golden buzzer.
Almost immediately, fans showed their frustration with how often the golden buzzer seems to be used, despite the fact that judges are only supposed to use it once a series. One wrote: “We don’t need to see the golden buzzer.”
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Fans feel the golden buzzer is overused(Image: itv)
Another asked: “I wonder how many Golden Buzzers we’ll get this year?” A third jokingly responded: “9 to my knowledge.” A fourth suggested the show needed to get rid of the buzzer: “Ditch the overused golden buzzer, overproduction, sob stories & the already successful ‘testing their luck’.”
Simon Cowell, the chief judge on the show, was the first to press the buzzer last year. He has faced a series of health challenges over the years. The 66-year-old judge and media tycoon survived a near-fatal bike accident that left him questioning his ability to walk again.
Last year, he was absent from some BGT auditions due to falling down some stairs, resulting in a head injury. Stacey Solomon stepped in as a substitute, whilst Amanda Holden assumed the role of chief judge.
“I must admit I hated sitting in that seat,” confessed Amanda. “I’ve been on the show the longest, so I understand why I probably need to sit in that seat, but when I was there, I felt very outcast on the end.”
Amanda Holden has returned to the show, along with several other familiar faces(Image: PA)
Amanda concedes she felt vulnerable without a fellow judge on either side. “It’s OK if your team are sitting to the left of you – Simon’s got dozens of staff and family watching from the side and communicating with him. Mine all decided to eat my snacks and sit in the dressing room, paying no attention to the show or me whatsoever!” Amanda quipped.
“Simon said to me, ‘You must have loved it. Did you feel powerful?’ I said I hated it because I had to keep leaning in to be part of the conversation. I never want to sit in that seat again! I’m juicy in the middle, it’s such a good spot.”
However, Amanda was thrilled to welcome Stacey to Britain’s Got Talent, praising her for bringing a great deal of warmth to the panel and drawing on her past experience from The X Factor in 2009.
“She’s so lovely and I think we’ve got quite a similar style of judging,” Amanda reveals. “She’s warm, she’s super funny, she has a great understanding of what it’s like to be on the other side, because she obviously auditioned for The X Factor all those years ago.”
The judging line-up has undergone changes this series, with KSI stepping in to replace Bruno Tonioli as a full-time panellist. He joins Simon and Amanda alongside Alesha Dixon on the panel.
Meanwhile, Ant and Dec return once again to present the programme. The beloved duo will welcome hopefuls as they battle it out for the £250,000 prize money and a coveted performance spot at the Royal Variety Show.
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