Sorry if this has been said before but I feel really strongly about this and wanted to express my opinions (i.e., rant) about this.

I’ve watched this programme for the last four years and thoroughly enjoyed it every time. Everyone knows BGS is a top quality show and the quality has been consistent over the last four years. It seems even people who normally hate reality gameshows can't help but love BGT. It never fails to entertain.

You can always count on the first episode to have a stunning mix of variety, talent, as well as really funny bad ones. Then of course the very last act in episode 1 is always the “big one” that everyone will always be talking about and will go on to either win or come second.

But this year… oh my goodness… what happened?

It was like a different programme! This first episode was absolutely dreadful. The quality was like a sub-par More Talent episode.

The only real memorable talent to speak of was the dog act, which was technically outstanding (although I think it was let down by the presentation and I don’t think people will remember it as much as some of the more memorable acts of recent years).

But aside from that there was nothing. The last act (the bell ringers) was neither talented nor funny, and the second to last act (the guitar player) was not a standout talent. If you walked past him playing that in the street for money, you probably wouldn’t pay much attention. He wasn’t bad, but come on, this is not a standout talent for the whole of the country. I know dozens and dozens of people more talented than him. Oh and as for the song he played, “Fast Car”, can anyone think of a more sleep-inducing song? I mean sure it’s a nice little quiet song, but not exactly the sort of sensational thing people tune in to Britain’s Got Talent to witness. It hardly competes with the likes of last year’s winners, Spelbound.

So, aside from the dog act, the only other somewhat memorable act was the “dull guy” who did crazy dancing. I don’t think he was particularly talented, but I applaud the concept and I liked his selection of songs. So that was worth watching.

But overall I just can’t believe that there is so little talent this year. Episode 1 always has all the best stuff on it. …So this was the best they had this year? Bell ringers and a boring guitar player?

What’s happened to this programme?

Before anyone points to the change of judges, I would say the judges were great. I’ve always liked The Hoff, and Michael Macyntire was a brilliant judge: really funny and likeable and brought a lot of personality to the show. A fantastic replacement for Piers. Just such a shame he had nothing interesting to judge.

Quite agree. Mediocrity.

Am I too late to enter my 'Picking Fluff Out Of My Belly Boutton' Act?
This year it stands to be a winner!

We're only one episode in, give it a chance.

Most of the acts who goes to semifinals can be titled as Britain Got Skills

It's possible that ITV producers idea of what this show is, is a bit off.

They may well think that the bulk of the audience are into that "laugh at the nutters" thing that early rounds of X-Factor does so well.

But I don't think that is the attraction to BGT at all, it is/was successfull precisely because it was genuinely looking for talent and the viewers wanted talent since variety has been largely absent from TV for years.

The only way to confirm this is to watch ep2 and perhaps ep3 and if it's the same drearyness then there is the truth.

I agree with alot of what you said op, the first episode this year is definitley the one i've least enjoyed watching out of every series.

I found them cutting to music too much and showing the same old montage of large groups of dancers :sleep:

I will still watch though, I cant stand not knowng whats going on when everyone is talking about it at work and stuff

I can't agree with that, I remember thinking that Series 4 had a pretty shocking first episode, and then the final turned out to be something quite decent.

i have faith that series 5 will get better.

we said all this last week, it was dire and for the 1st show of the season you'd think they would have produced something decent. All week ive been hearing adverts on how 2 bell ringers wowed the judges & audience followed by clips of delusional acts bleating on about taking bells to the next level and working with other artists. I tell you, you couldnt make it up.

Mediocre acts that would never have got past the producers 1st auditions back in the day. They are going to have to pull something spectaular out of the bag if they are to compete with the good weather and lack of scowell.

It can't be any worse than last year, Spellbound were good but had they been in Series 3, they would have struggled to get past Semi-Finals. For me, last week was a vast improvement on Series 4

I think Britain has got a load of talent; trouble is people who entered the show in previous years have been stitched up to a large extent, and truly talented people are being advised to give it a wide berth, hence mediocrity.

It has to be remembered all those acts that appear for their (so-called) "first" audition in front of the judges, have already been vetted by the producers etc. Their first appearance on stage is actually their second "audition", which makes me wonder what the producers are actually looking for? When I accompanied a couple of friends to their audition a couple of years ago, the producers were turning away some decent acts, and keeping the rubbish ones.

I think there will come a time when every act that comes on the show is rubbish. Britain can't have that much talent.

half way through the 2nd episode this season and that time has already come, this is utter garbage.

There's already acts being put through that aren't that good. That opera singer with the 'singing dog' wasn't that good. From what the papers said (yeah, I know), the dog was supposed to be a wonder. Pfft.

Iv said this too. The show is a pantomime, why would anyone gifted or classically trained want to put themselves through the mangle of being judged by Hoff and Amanda and the bear pit of a phone vote. BGT in some respects could be a setback to somones career.

Well I gave tonights 15 minutes after watching nearly all of last weeks with effort.

The BGT boat has sailed for me and I really liked it for the last few years, it's lost something and not just the poor quality of the contestants.

I agree and though Simon is unpopular on this forum he is sorely missed. I watched through the entire programme this week but I won't be tuning in again till the lives. Enough is enough!

let us see the actual acts and lose all the other nonsense.
Actually get rid of the idiotic directors/editors who have no idea how to present an act without constantly cutting away or show ludicrous shots Just how many times must we be forced to check out the judges/audience?
Imagine the camera is you. You have the best seat in the house but as soon as the act starts you jump all around the venue and spend most of the time looking backwards or on stage!! Insanity!!
You would just sit and watch the act
Use PinP FGS!
Two shows now BGT/API and both are massively improved without the Scowell. Micheal and S. Tyler have what is needed.
I don't watch at all unless the wife has it on and then if I get involved it becomes so frustrating I get wound up and get on the PC and ignore it.
Madness & Sadness.

Am sick of the bad acts we are meant to laugh at, just plain boring now and no wow factor anymore.

I watched the first BGT as it went out but last week I couldn't be bothered and but did end up watching it on the Iplayer. Tonight I decided to watch Channel 4 instead a programme about the royals. Just didn't seem to want to watch BGT tonight at all. Some of the acts have been fine and I didn't like Michael the guy that sang with his guitar in the first one. But there isn't really anybody you could say was totally gripping. I expect when the X Factor starts up again I will be saying the same thing.
Maybe both programmes have had their day?

Have you never watched a video of a stand-up comedian before? The same thing happens with them. In fact, this happens with almost every video that has an act on stage.