Britain's got talent

Clips from this coming Saturday's show

Last year mobile phone salesman Paul Potts proved he has talent. Now the search begins again as Britain's Got Talent hits our screens this Saturday.

The show is back with judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden. The audience are poised with their buzzers, ready to get rid of anyone who doesn't meet with their approval. The show is open to anyone who thinks they have a special skill, every act to perform has to avoid being buzzed; three buzzes and they are out. If they make it through they must get the judges approval to move to the next round and possibly onto the live studio semi-finals. The wait is finally over, Britain’s got Talent is back!

With hosts Ant & Dec on hand, every Saturday night over the next seven weeks we’ll be travelling t

he length and breadth of Britain in search of Britain’s brightest act to change their lives forever. Not only are the acts wanting to impress the Judges they are also competing for a truly amazing prize, a slot on this years Royal Variety Performance in front of HRH Prince Charles, not to mentioned £100,000 prize money.

Simon’s hoping for a Knighthood…
Simon, “It’s very simple if nobody with talent turns up, then it’s the end of Britain’s Got Talent, those are the rules. This is my only chance for a Knighthood, I have to get this right…. Sir Simon, it just has the right ring!”

Piers, “I think what is different this series is that Paul Potts has set the bar incredibly high and the standard we are after is higher so the pressure is really on. The winner gets to perform this year in front of Prince Charles not the Queen, he is a guy probably more in tune with the great variety acts than his Mother and he’s also the guy who is going to be our King.”

Amanda, “I’ve done the Royal Variety, out of the three of us I am the only one who has had the balls to stand on stage and perform live, the other two have no idea what that feels like. It’s going to be tougher this year because the standard has been set, and if you don’t meet that standard then… (hand to slitting throat gesture!)”

Star Wars – Michael’s own unique version
The search kicks off in Cardiff and first up to see the Judges is 57 year old ex-airfreight driver Michael Machell. Michael has come along today to show off his keyboarding talent and is going to perform a piece that he has spent years perfecting, as he explains to Ant & Dec, “I have rearranged the Star Wars theme, so now basically I have it feeling more ”spacey” and it has a different rhythm behind it..” Ant & Dec look amused, but will the Judges? Armed with his Beginners Guide to Keyboarding Book, Michael doesn’t get off to the best start trying to tune his keyboard, but once he has his backing track lined up he is off, to a rather bemused response from the Judges and the 3,000 strong audience, although Ant & Dec seem to enjoy it as they dance away to the tune side of stage. “That is why if I ever became Prime Minister I would ban those things” quips Simon, “that was the worst piece of music I have ever heard in my life”, but Michael promises Simon that he will return with “vengeance”. But with a resounding no from Simon will Piers and Amanda throw him a life line?

Simon’s on form with his comebacks
Our very own Dark Lord, Simon Cowell, definitely doesn’t have the force on his side as act after act fails to impress: “That was indulgent rubbish”, “Interesting for about five seconds, sorry”, “I wanted to find Shirley Bassey or Tom Jones and I’ve found a yodelling Cowboy from Cardiff, not what I came here for” – the mood is not good and Cardiff has not delivered the goods.

One to make your eyes water
Hoping to turn it all around, and a few heads, is 27 year old Iona Luvsandorj, a Mongolian law student. Although studying for law Iona has always been dreamt of being a full time contortionist and as she proves she certainly has an incredible ability to contort her body into some of the most unusual positions! Piers may think she has what it takes to be an impressive date, but will she get the two yes’s she needs from the Judges to make it through to the next stage of the competition?

Fulfilling a dream
The auditions move to Manchester and 34 year old Craig Harper, an entertainer and dad of two, has always dreamed of performing in front of the Royal Family; “there’s nothing the matter with performing in pubs and clubs, they’ve served me well for the last 23 years but there’s nothing I want more than to perform in front of royalty and Britain’s Got Talent would give me that ultimate chance”. Craig has a comedy singing act with a twist which he is hoping is unusual enough to impress the Judges. Dressed in a shiny white suit, that anyone on Blackpool pier would be proud of, Craig belts out a Boyzone number whilst impersonating each of the Irish crooners. Craig has certainly got the audience laughing down the aisles but will the Judges, and the ever harsh Cowell agree?

Four legged friend
As with last year, Britain’s Got Talent is open to any performer of any age and, more importantly any species! And the first of the animal acts to try their hand at auditioning is 16 year old Kate and her 6 year old collie dog Gin. Kate Nicholas has trained Gin since she was a pup and the duo have perfected a brilliant dance routine together. Ant & Dec are certainly impressed “I’ve never seen anything like it, is it a real dog or a robot!” says Ant, but will Simon, known for his love of dogs, be won over by Kate and her four legged best friend or is it back to the kennels for the two of them?

Everybody needs good neighbours
There are some acts that audition for the Judges who truly show the eccentric nature of the Great British public, and the next act in epitomises that. 74 year old Joan Gallagher, who aspires to have a part in a James Bond film, has a truly unique talent, although the question on the Judges lips is why? With the help from her neighbour Jim, Joan, dressed in fishnets and a skimpy leotard, asks Jim to step on her whilst she lies on a bed of nails and then proceeds to break a slab of concrete on Jim’s back, with a worried looking Ant & Dec looking on fearing for Jim’s safety. “Where do you practise?” asks a rather bemused Amanda, “Oh in the back garden” explains Joan, who only roped Jim in after another neighbour let her down. “I’m not sure that’s quite what HRH the Prince of Wales wants to see” laughs Piers.

Sex on strings
Four best friends who definitely think they have a unique act for the Judges is Scala, a sexy string quartet. After practising for years they are hoping Britain’s Got Talent will launch them and give them the break they so desperately want. Dressed to impress, Chantelle, Izzy, Vicky and Tafya have certainly sparked Simon, and Dec’s interest as a contemporary act with a twist but will Piers and Amanda agree?

The worst singer Simon has ever seen?
Donald Bell Gum, 20 from London, has no doubt that his singing voice will wow the Judges and the Prince of Wales, so he is left somewhat speechless when within the first thirty seconds of his rendition of Amy Winehouse’s hit Valerie he is met by jeers and roars of laughter from the audience, undeterred Donald tries a second, and then a third song but the reaction is still the same. Piers seems to be impressed though “I could listen to you for hours Donald, you are so bad that you’re brilliant!”, but will the Judges feel sorry for him or is Donald going to have to rethink his singing dream?

The next Aled Jones?
Last in to audition for the Judges, is 13 year old school boy Andrew Johnston. Andrew has been singing since the age of six and his dream is to perform on stage, but, as he explains to the Judges he’s not had much support from his friends, “I’ve been bullied all my life and my mates have been telling me to leave the singing as they don’t like the kind of music I sing, but I just ignore them and carry on. I don’t want to be hanging around on the streets, I just want to make something of my life”. Looking very nervous and shy as he walks out on stage the Judges don’t hold out much hope, but with his rendition of Pie Jesu have they found the next Aled Jones and has Andrew proved his bullies wrong?

Britain's Got Talent is on Saturday 12th April at 7.45pm on ITV1