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Simon Cowell promises more variety on Britain's Got Talent Simon Cowell promises more variety on Britain's Got Talent
(35 minutes later)
Simon Cowell has promised more variety in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, after admitting previous years had been too “top heavy” with singing acts.Simon Cowell has promised more variety in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, after admitting previous years had been too “top heavy” with singing acts.
Cowell, who will return to ITV on Saturday night as a judge on the ninth series of the show, said he had responded to criticism that the talent contest had favoured singers too much in the past. There have been 37 singing acts in the finals. Last year’s winners were Collabro, a boy band from London, whose album went to No 1 in August.Cowell, who will return to ITV on Saturday night as a judge on the ninth series of the show, said he had responded to criticism that the talent contest had favoured singers too much in the past. There have been 37 singing acts in the finals. Last year’s winners were Collabro, a boy band from London, whose album went to No 1 in August.
The winning act gets £250,000 and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.The winning act gets £250,000 and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.
“There are less singers this year,” Cowell said at the series launch. “It was a bit top heavy last year but we’ve evened it out this year. So we do listen.”“There are less singers this year,” Cowell said at the series launch. “It was a bit top heavy last year but we’ve evened it out this year. So we do listen.”
Britain’s Got Talent ratings have fallen steadily over the past three years. In 2014, the final was watched by 10.7m, the lowest viewing figures since the the first series in 2007.Britain’s Got Talent ratings have fallen steadily over the past three years. In 2014, the final was watched by 10.7m, the lowest viewing figures since the the first series in 2007.
The show’s peak ratings came in 2009, when dance group Diversity won, with the finale pulling in 15m viewers. The final of the sixth series in 2012, won by Pudsey the dog, attracted an audience of 14.5 million, but audiences have fallen since. The show’s peak ratings came in 2009, when dance group Diversity won, with the finale pulling in 15 million viewers. The final of the sixth series in 2012, won by Pudsey the dog, attracted an audience of 14.5 million, but audiences have fallen since.
With Cowell under contract with ITV until 2016, the pressure is on to prove the show still has staying power.With Cowell under contract with ITV until 2016, the pressure is on to prove the show still has staying power.
Asked if they had high expectations for this year’s ratings, Cowell, who was speaking alongside his fellow judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, replied sarcastically: “Yes, we make this show so no one watches” before adding: “Hopefully it will do better than last year. It’s done well over the last nine years, so we’ll wait and see.”Asked if they had high expectations for this year’s ratings, Cowell, who was speaking alongside his fellow judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, replied sarcastically: “Yes, we make this show so no one watches” before adding: “Hopefully it will do better than last year. It’s done well over the last nine years, so we’ll wait and see.”
He admitted to regrets about his some of his choices of finalists in the past. “Sometimes when you do the auditions you do get in a bit of a bubble,” conceded Cowell. “And then later think ‘Christ, what was I thinking?’”He admitted to regrets about his some of his choices of finalists in the past. “Sometimes when you do the auditions you do get in a bit of a bubble,” conceded Cowell. “And then later think ‘Christ, what was I thinking?’”
Cowell, who despite his unforgiving reputation at a judge, is known to have a particular soft spot for dogs but said he was not tempted to ditch humans for an entirely animal orientated talent contest.Cowell, who despite his unforgiving reputation at a judge, is known to have a particular soft spot for dogs but said he was not tempted to ditch humans for an entirely animal orientated talent contest.
“I like the fact that it’s animal versus human,” he said, laughing. “True story though, someone did approach me in America and asked me if I could do Animal’s Got Talent, but I said no.”“I like the fact that it’s animal versus human,” he said, laughing. “True story though, someone did approach me in America and asked me if I could do Animal’s Got Talent, but I said no.”
Viewers will be able to vote, for free, via a mobile app for the first time. In 2012, when ITV first attempted to introduce a mobile voting platform, costing voters 50p-a-time, it crashed due to the capacity and had to be withdrawn.Viewers will be able to vote, for free, via a mobile app for the first time. In 2012, when ITV first attempted to introduce a mobile voting platform, costing voters 50p-a-time, it crashed due to the capacity and had to be withdrawn.
Cowell played up to his egomaniacal reputation when asked what he thought was the key to the show’s continued success. “I’d have to say me,” he replied.Cowell played up to his egomaniacal reputation when asked what he thought was the key to the show’s continued success. “I’d have to say me,” he replied.