Britain’s Got Talent returned to screens on Saturday night, and is seemingly already off to a flying start.
According to overnight figures, the ITV show raked in a total of 6.2million viewers, making it the most-watched ITV show of the year.
The long-standing show returned for its sixteenth 2023 series on April 15, featuring judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and newbie Bruno Tonioli.
And though questions were raised over the departure of David Walliams after a decade on the panel, it seems there was no cause for concern.
Watching live, an average of 5.5million viewers tuned in – roughly a 39 per cent share of viewing.
Success: Britain’s Got Talent returned to screens on Saturday night, and is already the most-watched ITV show of the year – after 6.2million viewers tuned in overnight
Additionally, the show had a 45 per cent share of viewing among 16-34’s.
Despite it’s evident success, Britain’s Got Talent‘s 16-year reign on ITV could soon be over, with the show’s deal with the network nearing its end.
The programme is contracted on the channel for two more series.
Cowell, 63, whose Syco Entertainment company owns the show, has been in talks with Channel 5 to start working with them after almost two decades of screening his productions on ITV.
His five-year deal with the network ends in 2025.
BGT, which launched its latest season last night, is the last remaining programme that ITV works on with Cowell.
While ITV bosses believe that Cowell’s meetings with other TV stations could be part of a ruse to nudge up his fee when it comes to renew the deal, some executives at the broadcaster are looking to move on from his shows.
One source said: ‘For many years Simon and his team called the shots, so much so that there was a significant amount of fear among ITV employees.
Flying start: The long-standing show returned for its sixteenth 2023 series on April 15, featuring judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and newbie Bruno Tonioli
All change: Bruno replaced David Walliams, 51, on the panel this series after the comedian made sexual remarks towards contestants last year, but fans wanted David back on Saturday (David pictured earlier this month)
‘But as ratings have dropped, the dynamic has changed and ITV are no longer so reliant upon his shows.
‘Plus, let’s not forget Simon has spoken repeatedly about wanting to work with Netflix, Amazon and other streaming giants.
‘Then, of course, he has met with Channel 5, so it would be fair to assume from that that he is looking for a new home for his programmes.’
In recent years, ITV has been keen to air what it refers to internally as ‘kind television’ and has launched shows such as The Masked Singer and Starstruck.
BGT’s wholesome image was tarnished when recordings emerged of judge David Walliams making sexually explicit comments about contestants during auditions in January 2020.
He was replaced by former Strictly judge Tonioli. But Cowell and ITV were at odds over his appointment, with the broadcaster wanting to hire Alan Carr to join the judging panel.
Indeed, Britain’s Got Talent’s first live show of the 2023 series descended into chaos on Saturday night as new judge Bruno pressed his golden buzzer halfway through an act’s performance.
The former Strictly star, 67, made his debut on the ITV talent show where he quickly got stuck into enjoying the entertainment on offer.
The calamitous Italian got into a spot of bother as he excitedly pressed his golden buzzer for Ugandan dance act Ghetto Kids before they’d were finished their performance.
While it’s customary that the judges or hosts Ant and Dec press the button after the performance, the talented orphans were showered with golden confetti while they danced on stage.
Whoops! Britain’s Got Talent’s first live show of the 2023 series descended into chaos on Saturday night as new judge Bruno Tonioli pressed his golden buzzer halfway through an act’s performance
The group, though delighted with the golden buzzer, ploughed on through the performance and put on a great show – despite hardly being able to see through the confetti.
The jaw-dropping moment left both the audience and Bruno’s fellow judges in shock, with Simon declaring that this had ‘never happened’ before.
Watching the scenes unfold at home, viewers were quick to comment on Bruno’s blunder, with many declaring that they loved the chaos he brought to the show.
‘I’m glad Bruno hit his buzzer when he did that was too funny!!’ commented one person.
‘That was such a great golden buzzer moment. Bruno is proving to be chaos but actually, I quite like it’ remarked another.
A third tweeted: ‘Bruno’s mishaps have brought #BGT back to life randomly pressing buzzers, love him.’
‘It’s what happens when you assume the new judge has watched the show before. Didn’t hire him cos he is a fan, and Bruno has broken all the rules. LOVE IT’ said a fourth.
‘Bruno ain’t got a clue but I absolutely love it’ write a fifth watcher,
With another adding: ‘I don’t think anyone understands what’s happened tbh. Bruno threw that rulebook out the window.’
Following his blunder, head judge Simon was quick to explain that this was not the way things were done, causing an red-faced Bruno to remark: ‘Oh I’m sorry, I got it wrong!’
While Ant McPartlin quipped backstage: ‘Someone didn’t explain the rules of Britain’s Got Talent to him.’
Earlier in the evening, Bruno made a similar mistake when he pressed his red buzzer after telling an act that it was a no from him.
Gone: Breaking his silence on the comedian’s exit, the TV mogul admitted he’d ‘never condone’ his sexual remarks towards other contestants, for which he apologised (pictured in 2020)
Alesha was quick to remind him that Bruno needn’t press his buzzer when rejecting an act, with Bruno then admitting that he’s never actually watched BGT before.
As the judges and audience laughed at his error, Bruno – who replaced David Walliams on the show – declared: ‘They are going to sack me, I know this!’
Speaking to Digital Spy and other press about his Golden Buzzer blunder, Bruno previously said: ‘I just had to do it. They were absolutely amazing. And then I turn around and go what have I done wrong? I had no idea.
‘I did it in the performance and the whole stage is covered with gold and they keep on dancing. And they were even more amazing. Now I know you have to wait until the end.
‘But then I didn’t know that you can only do it once, so I did it again. And we just keep giving them. But you get such a buzz to embrace fully what has been performed in front of you to such a level that the audience goes insane.’
Bruno’s antics left many viewers unimpressed, with some calling for David to return to the show.
Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: ‘David Walliams is missed …. Bruno is ok but can’t see him doing the Walliams v Cowell banter.’
Someone else posted: ‘I’m probably not the only person to tweet this, but please bring back @davidwalliams,’ while another person simply demanded: ‘BRING BACK @davidwalliams.’
Another person added: ‘This feels so flat without David Walliams. Bruno is not a good replacement.’
‘Who’s starting the petition to bring back? #BGT #DavidWalliams,’ asked one viewer.
‘Not watching #BGT because David Walliams is not there. Without him showing off and being a silly bugger there’s no point,’ shared another person.
While someone else wrote: ‘Bring back BGT isn’t any good without him!! Within the first 10 mins Bruno annoyed me!!’
Another person tweeted: ‘Missing seeing the banter between #davidwalliams and #simoncowell this year on #BGT #britainsgottalent.’
David decided to leave Britain’s Got Talent after he was forced to apologise for describing an elderly contestant as a ‘c***’ and making vile sexual remarks about a woman taking part.
The comments, made in January 2020 during auditions at the London Palladium, were picked up on the programme’s microphones and revealed in December 2022.
During the audition, an older performer engaged in banter with the judges in which he made a jibe about Walliams. After the audition, the pensioner left, at which point Walliams is said to have called him a ‘c***’ three times.
Another instance occurred after a female contestant auditioning on the same show had walked off stage.
New face: He has been replaced on the judging panel by Bruno Tonioli, with the new series kicking off on Saturday
David remarked: ‘She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don’t… It’s the last thing on your mind, but she’s like, ‘Yep, I bet you do!’ ‘
A source told The Sun: ‘He hasn’t taken the decision lightly, but it just feels like time to move on.
‘David has decided to bow out after a ten-year run. He wants to leave on a high after a wonderful time.
‘His team have quietly been having conversations over the past few days where it has been made clear that David is readying himself to step down – and then producers will start to think about who might replace him.’
‘No I don’t! I had a bit of a b***r, but now it’s going, it’s now shrivelled up inside my body.’
Sources close to BGT had said that David’s return was ‘very much under threat’ and he was ‘under the microscope’, with some senior staff saying that he should be immediately axed.
In a statement to The Guardian, the Little Britain star said: ‘I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.
‘These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.’
A spokesman for ITV said: ‘We do not condone the language outlined in these allegations and we have spoken to the producers of Britain’s Got Talent.
‘Duty of care towards all participants on any of our programmes is always of paramount importance and we have protocols and guidelines in place for all our production partners.’
Britain’s Got Talent continues Sunday at 7.45pm on ITV and ITVX.
