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18 Jun 2007, 4:18 pm / Full of life
Finally a breath of fresh air hit the British airwaves last week as we were treated in glorious abundance to the 'Britain's Got Talent' TV show.
Simon Cowells new baby certainly proved a smash hit amongst the population as all sorts of talented contenders were paraded in full glory on our TV screens.
First there were four nights of auditions, held in various venues in front of the panel of judges consisting of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan...oh and the fourth judge, a thousand strong audience seated within the confines of whichever theatre was hosting the venue. Auditionees would stand on stage ready to show off whatever talent they've been blessed with, and here's where the fun part comes in, anyone but anyone can apply. And they certainly did.
Be they magicians, dancers, singers, jugglers, ventriloquists, puppeteers, trampolinist's, you name it Britain's seems to have it. Of course many were, well to be honest, dreadful. Many cringe worthy performances caused this viewers to cower into the back of my sofa, cushion covering my face wondering where on earth they found the balls to stand on stage. But others were pure entertainment, and I applauded from my seat in humble admiration for their guts to get up there and show us what they have.
Out of 50,000 entrants a handful (I think the number was about 150-200) were chosen for semi finals, which in turn had to be dwindled down to 24 (it ended up 26 because the three judges realised errors in turning away two acts worthy of trying to earn television audience votes).
And so the semi finals began, and boy what a ride. I had my favorite the moment they stepped up for their first audition, but it still made the viewing hard to watch and I wanted nearly every semi finalist to make it to the end prize. Never has a TV show been so enjoyable to watch, young and old performed magically on screen, from a six year old with a voice of an angel, to a 80 yr old who tap danced like a man half his age.
What made Britain's got Talent so enjoyable perhaps, was that we saw the everyday people make it. Each had a story to tell, from the baton twirler who until he stepped out for his audition, had kept quiet of his talent for fear of ridicule from friends and family, to the talented Bessie Curzons who flew thousands of miles from a holiday to make it to auditions. Her mother didn't even think she'd make through, and she made it to the final, showing the audiences a glimpse of a future west end star with her portrayals of Eliza Doolittle and Mary Poppins.
Ant and Dec hosted the entire event, fitting in a way of showing how much talent Britain indeed has. Two boys from the working classes, who grew up on north east council estates and are now stars of TV, and very much loved by a nation.
The final was breathtaking, and it was terrible to think only one act would win the prize, each person or group deserved, but I was delighted my favorite won. Paul Potts stole the nations heart, with the operatic voice hidden deep within a humble man of little words. I wait with anticipation for the Royal Variety Performance, at which he will grace such is his prize of winning a slot to appear in front of HM Queen Elizabeth.
The nation already sighs tonight, at having nothing so entertaining and breathtaking to watch. We will have to wait another year to see what else Britain has to offer. Until then we will reminisce in memory of hapless auditions, of closet baton twirlers, drag queens, 60yr old grannies rapping and bar men juggling bottles with ease.
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