The first-ever winner of Britain’s Got Talent has spoken out about the ITV show’s format and says it needs to change to survive.
Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts has spoken out about the iconic talent show and its current format.
The 55-year-old, who claimed the inaugural title on the ITV programme back in 2007, has voiced his concerns about international acts who have already reached the semi-final stages on other Got Talent franchises subsequently competing in the British version.
While making clear he has “no problem” with overseas performers appearing on the show, Paul insisted the programme must “adapt” to remain relevant.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Vegas, he said: “I’ve got no problem with international acts because British people have won America’s Got Talent before. Paul Zerdin won America’s Got Talent, so it works both ways. Some of the international acts this year have been fantastic and they bring real quality to the competition.”
He continued: “But I don’t think people who’ve already made a Got Talent final anywhere in the world should then be allowed to compete in another regular Got Talent series. Otherwise, it just becomes the same people endlessly auditioning across the franchise.”
“For me, if somebody has already reached a live semi-final, they should maybe get one more shot and that’s it. It’s not just meant for amateurs and complete novices. Professionals can absolutely compete, but it can’t just become a revolving door of career talent show contestants.”
Paul also suggested that the programme needs to venture across the UK in search of potential performers. He went on: “The format of Britain’s Got Talent needs to adapt.
“I think they need to start going around the country again like they used to instead of concentrating everything into one or two locations. Go out to seven or eight cities and really search for more homegrown talent. That would encourage more people from around the UK to audition.
“They also need to focus purely on quality once it gets to the semi-finals and finals. Bring novelty acts back to perform in the live shows for entertainment, but don’t have them there as actual semi-finalists because it feels a little disrespectful to the contestants who genuinely have a realistic chance of winning.”
Paul further noted that he believes the Golden Buzzer is ineffective in the semi-finals and that Piers Morgan ought to make a comeback to the programme, reports the Daily Star.
He continued: “I think it’s good to have diversity on the panel. KSI brings energy, and I don’t think there’s really anything wrong with the judging panel itself. The issue for me is more about the structure – you either need one more judge or one fewer judge, so you don’t keep ending up in deadlock situations.
“If they were going to add another judge, I’d say bring Piers Morgan back. I’m sure he’d shake things up a bit. I’m not sure he’d do it again, but it would certainly make things interesting.”
Britain’s Got Talent continues Saturday, 23rd May at 7pm on ITV1.