BGT winner calls for U-turn on 'lazy' part of show after major change-up
EXCLUSIVE: Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts says the change-up put in place this year "doesn't help with the diversity and range of acts" and called for a U-turn
Simon Cowell reportedly 'gave the green light' to the auditions change-up
Britain's Got Talent's first ever champion Paul Potts has urged the show's producers to re-evaluate their choice of auditioning exclusively in Blackpool.
This season, auditions were solely filmed at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool unlike previous years where venues, such as the London Palladium, have been used.
A source told TV Zone regarding the new format: "The Palladium is such an iconic venue but if you compare the shows in Blackpool to the ones they have filmed in London, the audience is way more up for it there. The auditions resume in the new year and they'll all be filmed up in Blackpool.
"Boss Simon Cowell has given the green light to the move and just wants the show to be the best it can be."
Paul, 54, has criticised the altered approach to the audition process, describing it as "lazy".
When asked if he believes Britain is running out of talent for the show, he shared: "There's absolutely no shortage of talent in Britain, [there's] plenty of untapped potential out there.
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"But the show needs to be more flexible in how it finds and selects that talent.
"Just sticking to Blackpool for auditions this year felt, frankly, a bit lazy. I understand that it might have been a cost-cutting idea, even though securing the ballroom wouldn't have come cheaply, however, the limited outreach doesn't help with the diversity and range of acts," he added in association with Sky Vegas.
PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 17: Paul Potts arrives at "America's Got Talent: The Champions" Finale at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on October 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by)
The tenor has since called for the production team to reverse their decision and "get back out on the road" to "really engage with people" and uncover "fresh, authentic talent".
"And like I've said before, if they want to breathe new life into the show, let's do something bold. Make Blackpool a Vegas-style call-back round. Turn it into a proper second stage, not just a shortcut to the live shows," he continued.
"That way you can really test and find the best acts."
Paul added: "Britain has amazing talent – there's no question. But if we're seeing acts in the semi-finals that are getting three red buzzers, we have to ask, what are we doing? You start to risk the credibility of the show.'
Tonight, the last remaining two acts will be selected for the upcoming final.
Those who win the public vote and final golden buzzer will join; singers Hear Our Voice, Jasmine Rice, Stacey Leadbetter and Vinnie McKee, comedian Joseph Charm, dance group Ping Pong Pang, guitarist Olly Pearson and LED show act The Blackouts.
On how he believes the final is shaping up currently, Paul warned singers about "a real risk" when it comes to song choice.
"It's fairly finely balanced at this stage, but there's a real risk, as I've said before, the singers could end up cancelling each other out," he shared.
"We've got a couple of crossover singers going through, but some of the repertoire decisions across the board have felt a bit off. I'm all for hearing something fresh and unexpected, songs that haven't been done to death, but it also needs to be right for the artist. It has to showcase their strengths."
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Britain's Got Talent continues tonight at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
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