Britain's Got Talent kicked off another series on Saturday night - so it's time to reveal some juicy secrets about the much-loved show. The primetime programme is the perfect recipe of talented performers, A-list judges and everyone's favourite presenting duo Ant and Dec. But while ITV viewers enjoy the final polished package, filming can be a long and gruelling process.
Acts go through pre auditions before they get to perform for Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI and Bruno Tonioli in front of a live audience, facing six hour waits just to get in the building on the day. From favourite pre-show snacks to push ups, the judges have some rather interesting habits...
The live TV show stage isn't the first time the contestants will perform their routines at Britain's Got Talent, according to street dance act Twist and Pulse, who found their pre-auditions useful practice. Ashley Glazebrook and Glen Murphy were winners of Britain's Got Talent: The Champions in 2019 and Ashley told the Daily Star: "You have a producer round first where you have to perform in a room with a little tiny TV and I remember it was really awkward".
"I remember when we were doing our Cheeky Girls dance in front of one producer and then we were like 'Er, thank you, bye'," continued the DJ. "Then we waiting for a letter to come through the door to say we got through," added Glen. "It's a weird kind of stage to go through but it's just part of the process and it gets you rehearsing for that and well prepared for when the actual stage comes you're ready.".
The contestants face lengthy waits on the day itself too. "I feel like it is as you see on TV, there's a lot of waiting around and you know when you see the shots of people queuing up and they look like they are there for hours and hours, well it is all real and you actually do have to queue in those," said Twist and Shout's Glen. "Literally, in the freezing cold and people do actually queue in them. The actual thought that you have to go on stage after six hours queuing and give the best performance of your life is quite challenging!".
Simon has adopted a pre-show ritual he used to perform before nights out, according to his fellow judges. "He has been doing his press-ups backstage," Amanda Holden told the Sun. "Simon's impressive, he's got some guns." The mum-of-two says the reason for the new fitness regime is simple: Bruno Tonioli, the newest judge on the panel and an old pal of Simon's.
"He's trying to compete with me," confirmed Bruno, 68. "If you do press-ups before the show, it lifts your chest muscles. I remember maybe 40 years ago we were in Majorca and he used to do it before going out. He had very long hair, beautiful long hair, and we were staying at my agent's apartment with my friend. Before going out, he was on the terrace doing press-ups.".
"I just do tons of push-ups every day to keep fit," laughed Simon, 64. "We are kind of hanging around a lot backstage, so if I've got ten minutes, I'll just do a few push-ups.". Judge Amanda Holden is renowned for stealing the show with some of her bold outfit choices - many of which have led to more than a few Ofcom complaints over the years.
In July 2017, Amanda's see-through and plunging Julien Macdonald dress she wore for the live shows even became the most complained about TV moment of the year. Amanda joked the furore was a 'national crisis', teasing: "I had bits of fish wire underneath my breasts trying to hold that together... It's all quite laughable, but all everyone seems to talk about.It's been called another national crisis – but, oh no, I will not be covered up.".
Amanda's risque frocks have become so talked about that she even has a team to check her chest before the live shows. "There's a whole body of people that knock on my door and come and stare at my chest before we go on air," she previously explained. "There's a t*t committee. There are so many brilliant people, they come down, knock on the door and there's the lady who's the producer who said, 'Mandy, it looks great'.".
Amanda, 53 and Alesha, 45, are said to nibble on healthy snacks during the show, with white bowls placed on their desk containing slices of apple and other nutritious choices. Amanda has a penchant for popcorn too, with Alesha enjoying green juices. Former judge David Walliams, meanwhile, was once spotted by a reporter raiding the front row of the audience for treats, accepting the gift of a Cadbury's Dairy Milk.
Simon Cowell favours healthier snacks like the women on the panel, keeping a bowl of his favourite carrots in his dressing room. The veggies are flown in from 7,000 miles away according to Stephen Mulhern, who hosted BGT's sister show Britain's Got More Talent.
"I walked in on day one for the new series and Simon had these carrots to eat by his side and they were like polished carrots with perfect greenery on the end," the stunned comedian told OK!. "His PA said they were from Singapore. I was sure I was being wound up!".
Head judge Simon Cowell is wearing red lens spectacles on this year's Britain's Got Talent due to a battle with migraines, a condition causing painful headaches that affects 10 million people in the UK. The music mogul explained his glasses help to alleviate the impact of the show's bright lighting on his health.
