Britain's Got Talent 2023: Release date, judges, contestants and news
The ITV show is back!
ITV's hit talent competition Britain's Got Talent returned last weekend for its whopping sixteenth season, in order to find the next big entertainment act for across the country.
The show certainly has form when it comes to finding incredible talent, with acts from Diversity to Susan Boyle having made their names on the series.
This year once again the contestants will be taking to the stage in either London or Manchester in the hope of making their mark on the judges and the audience.
Over the years we've seen singers, dancers, pet performers, knife-throwers, magicians and so many more showing off their incredible and sometimes unusual talents and this year has already seen no difference in that regard, with some amazing acts taking to the stage in the first two audition shows.
The main difference this year is on the judging panel, as former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli has joined the panel, sitting in David Walliams's chair following the Little Britain actor's exit.
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Speaking to Radio Times Magazine, Tonioli revealed what it was like joining the series: "I had a ball, partly because I had never seen it before. It's true! Simon has teased me to death about it. I didn't even watch Strictly – I don't watch shows that have a judging panel because I don't want to be influenced by another judge. I just want to do my own thing. But I had the best time.
"It's a proper variety show and the range of talent is incredible. Some of the contestants are absolutely demented, I have to say."
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Tonioli has already made his mark on the panel, as viewers saw him shockingly and hilariously press his Golden Buzzer halfway through an audition, interrupting the act's performance.
Read on for everything you need to know about Britain's Got Talent 2023.
Britain's Got Talent 2023 release date
BGT returned with a double bill weekend in April 2023, with the show kicking off on Saturday 15th April at 8pm on ITV1.
The 2023 season then continued on Sunday 16th, but at the slightly earlier time of 7:45pm for an hour and a quarter. The next episode will air on Saturday 22nd April at 8pm.
Britain's Got Talent 2023 judges
Long-time judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon will be back for this year's panel, but they'll be joined by a brand new face.
Strictly Come Dancing's Bruno Tonioli has joined the judges for season 16 after David Walliams's departure from the show.
The comedian, who had been a judge on Britain's Got Talent since 2012, was warned earlier this year for "inappropriate" remarks he made about contestants back in 2020. He apologised for his remarks, adding: "These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry."
On joining Britain's Got Talent, Tonioli said: "Here we are, Britain's Got Talent. I am so excited. It's my first show, I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I'm sure it's going to be brilliant."
And the BGT studio audience will also have a bigger part to play this year after being given a Golden Buzzer of their own.
"There were more Golden Buzzers this year," said Cowell. "We have eight. I don't want to give too much away but there was one Golden Buzzer moment. I think in all the years, I've done this show because, you know, it wasn't really supposed to happen because we run out [of buzzers]."
"It was kind of chaotic at this moment because the audience really dictated it, they did not let this go [for this act]. They're not going to leave. So we kind of said you know what, why don't we just give the audience a Golden Buzzer."
Britain's Got Talent 2023 hosts
Britain's Got Talent is being hosted once again by Ant & Dec, who've been at the helm of the show since it first began in 2007.
The duo are best known for presenting Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, Limitless Win and previous titles like SMTV Live, Pop Idol, Red or Black? and Text Santa.
Who are the Britain's Got Talent 2023 contestants?
We don't know much about the season 16 contestants, however ITV has teased that the show is set to be "bigger and better than ever before" with "jaw-dropping acts" and, as mentioned, "more golden buzzer moments than any season yet".
Auditions were held in both London and Manchester for the first time since the pandemic, so viewers can expect the calibre of talent this year to be "the best the competition has ever seen".
Who was the Britain's Got Talent 2022 winner?
Last year's season of BGT was won by Axel Blake, a comedian from West London who'd previously worked as a property maintenance manager.
He made it through to the live shows after receiving the Golden Buzzer from judge Simon Cowell.
Britain's Got Talent 2023 continues on Saturday 22nd April on ITV1. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on.
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