Radio Times: Review by:; Jane Rackham

After a fair amount of bickering, the BGT judges have picked the acts going through to the live shows. As in previous years the semi-finals are stripped through the coming week and each night the act with the most public votes goes through to next weekend’s final while the judges pick one more act out of the runners-up.

This season we’ve seen some entertaining dance groups, performing dogs and singers, but it’s the acts that confounded all expectations (Charlotte and Jonathan, the Zimmers, Strictly Wheels, Kai and Natalia) that I’m crossing my fingers will return.

About this programme

8/13. Ant and Dec host the first of the live semi-finals, which sees nine of the 45 acts compete to impress the judges and secure the all-important viewers' vote. At stake is the chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance and win a cash prize of £500,000 - half of which is coming from Mr Cowell's own pocket. But first they have to win one of two places available in Saturday's final - and with the judges still allowed to buzz them off if the act isn't going well, the pressure is on. One act who won't be getting the buzzer treatment is special guest Tulisa, in the studio to perform her debut solo single, Young. Continues tomorrow.