BGT GOES OMG OVER ANT AND DEC OBE
Judges are jealous of Geordie pair’s gong from Queen
THE shows haven’t started yet, but the big talking point of this year’s BGT is a new set of initials – Ant and Dec’s OBEs.
The presenters picked up their honours from the Queen earlier this year and the Britain’s Got Talent judges have been both jealous and delighted, with even Simon Cowell admitting he was happy for the pair.
A new season of the talent contest begins this weekend, with Ant and Dec introducing the next generation of auditioning acts for star judges Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams to run the rule over.
Ant said: “The judges were really lovely and congratulated us. Simon said, ‘I’m happy for you both’. They were all thrilled.”
Simon said: “I’ve worked out that they are something like 77th in line to be the next kings of this country. But they’ve worked hard for this so they do deserve it.
“If they had tails, they would be wagging them every day, all day.”
The 11th series of the show – which has brought fame to acts such as Susan Boyle, Jai McDowall, Paul Potts and dance act Diversity – begins with the usual mix of talented animals, singers and dancers. They will be competing for a career in showbiz, a £250,000 prize pot and a slot at the Royal Variety Performance later this year.
Cowell added: “Hopefully we’ll find something never seen before. I like the fact that this show is open to
anyone and anything. It sounds corny but this is a show about making dreams come true. I don’t know who is going to win – an animal or a human – but I like that.
“That’s the good thing about having competition. You have to raise your game and make it clear why it’s more important
that you audition for this show than another.
“BGT is all about championing the public and we welcome anyone.
“There are loads of acts – such as Paul Potts and Susan Boyle – who I genuinely feel would not have had a shot at a record label.
“That’s what’s so good about this show – you find people who are underdogs. Then you find acts like Diversity. We showcased them and they went on to have a fantastic career.
“If you ever get tired of finding stars, you have to do something else.”
Dixon said the mix of talent and back story gets her excited.
She added: “I love to see that people have strength, resilience and determination. They don’t give up.”
Walliams said the comic hostilities between him and Cowell will cool.
He said: “Sometimes we spend the whole time winding each other up and being really competitive. But this year we’re actually getting on fine.” ● Britain’s Got Talent returns on Saturday on STV at 8pm.