Is There Life After Cowell? ; Britain's Got Talent Returns...But It's Mcintyre and the Hoff Alongside Holden in the Hot Seats

Summary

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Where once magicians, ventriloquists and snake charmers made a living doing their turns in regional theatres up and down the country, the folk art that is variety entertainment has been revitalised in recent years by ITV's allinclusive talent search. Now in its fifth year, Britain's Got Talent (Saturday, ITV1, 8.20pm) makes its annual return to the nation's screens.

Showcasing those whose performing skills may not quite fit the homogenised, formulaic demands of other starmaking series, BGT rolls out its touring audition stage to find this year's winner, who will be joining the ranks of opera everyman Paul Potts, street-dancing whippersnapper George Sampson and nerve-shredding dance troupe Spelbound. But it is 2009's runner-up Susan Boyle who has gone on to be BGT's biggest success story, with the warbling lassie morphing into a bona fide global superstar. Who could have been better placed than hit-spawning svengali Simon Cowell to help launch the singing phenomenon's career? Viewers who previously tuned in for the acid- tongued put-downs of Cowell and co-conspirator Piers Morgan should prepare to be disappointed, however, as both have vacated their seats as audition judges to pursue Stateside careers. But taking the duo's place as the public's arbiters of taste is the most bizarre double act since comedian Bernie Winters and his dog Schnorbitz, with Baywatch beefcake David Hasselho[broken bar] and comedy king Michael McIntyre joining Amanda Holden on the panel. It's not until the live finals in the last week of the series that Cowell returns to o[broken bar]er contestants the benefit of his showbiz experience.

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Is There Life After Cowell? ; Britain's Got Talent Returns...But It's Mcintyre and the Hoff Alongside Holden in the Hot Seats

With a pl...

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