Oh look having to choose between two lots of kids. One is in tears -even though she got through and all the others god knows how they are feeling.

Especially when he built their hopes up, I want to change the rules, Hmmm why was that cos of what putting one out would do to them?

As much as they are talented I do think Bruce has a point

Unfortunately you can already see the tabloid headlines and the bitter ranting in the final of Simon going "Look Bruce, look at what the kids done, the kids bruce, the kids". That's what it is all about. ITV so caught up in a bloody ratings war over who has the ****ing least **** reality dirge.

Bruce is one to talk as he goes on about how young he was when he started in show biz.

Most of the kids who go for BGT clearly have very supportive families, and have been singing/ dancing / doing whatever it is they do since they could walk and talk..... And doing exams/ entering competitions/ performing on stage as well

Apart from the "breakdown" of Hollie Steel a couple of years ago, all of them have coped in a very mature fashion.

Incidentally - Arixandra has been singing for years.....there are (or were) loads of videos of her on YouTube!

Thats all well and good but to be blunt, how do you know? Do you follow all these kids lives after the show has ended? after most of them have been cast back into their ordinary lives, their 15 seconds of ITV fame over and shot.

No one knows what happens to them after and no one cares. That's the point. Its fine whenever they are living in the ITV/Cowell bubble and fantasy land.

It has the means to backfire greatly though. Have you seen Twitter? people seem really peed Simon blasted Brucie. I didn't even watch BGT but got caught up in it all because my feed was flooded.

Bruce is an old man. Its never really on to attack minority groups for what ever reason anyway let alone someone as well respected as Brucie

Won't someone think of the children!

I just don't want to see kids singing and dancing on a show like this end of. If they are good as kids let them frow up and be great as adults.

I agree with Brucie and his reasoning behind it but I also think there's something else to Kids on BGT, its the disadvantage it gives to real acts (like Aaron tonight) who just can't compete with the 'aw its a child warbling (not particularly well) to Whitney, but bless her she's cute so lets vote' brigade: If they HAVE to have kids on, I'd like a early evening kids 'version' earlier in the year with the winner performing on the BGT final and in the Royal Variety and then have the 16 & overs having a level playing field

I might have agreed with you more if you hadn't cited Aaron as a "real act". He performed one magic trick very poorly, all the kids tonight were far better than he.

Glad Simon gave a reality check to the old fool.

If his views were ever valid, then that was a very long time ago and certainly before the slow embarrassing decline in his ability to 'entertain..

Oh I dunno. Brucie doing Gangnam Style on Strictly was one of my TV highlights last year. Simon could never manage anything like that without looking like a ****.

Bruce might have started young, but he didnt have to put up with Facebook, twitter etc.

He also probally started in small Music hall were he learned his trade. Not in front of millions who could be applauding you one moment and baying for your blood the next.

Couldn't have put it better.
Barring unforseen accidents, if they have a voice now, as children - then they should still have that gift as adults and could then cope with the celebrity world and its pitfalls. Raise the age limit.

Yes, that was brilliant and shows that he doesn't take himself too seriously.

When Simon asked if he could change the rules did you see the desperation of all those kids in the dance troupe jumping up and down shouting "YES. YES, change the rules"?
I also noticed Arisxandra crying even before the result was announced.

I think that Brucie has a point too. Because this isn't like a normal talent show at a seaside resort or something.
In this show there appear to be some pushy parents involved who genuinely believe that this show is a massive opportunity for their child to break into showbiz and become an overnight major star.

But what's worse are the judges who feed them comments to give them all false hope, such as 'You're world class', 'You have a massive career in front of you', 'After this show you won't need to worry about a job in the future'.
These sorts of comments will be very damaging to a young child.
A child will lap them up as absolute truth, as people who appear on these shows seem to be under the belief that Simon Cowell is a God who can wave a wand and magically make somebody rich and famous for life.

When adults are rejected, they often look disappointed but seem to accept that it's back to reality and have to return to normality.
But the children on this show seem to believe in this fairytale world and that it is all important. They're fed lines by the judges which appear to register on their faces that all their wishes have come true and that as soon as the series is finished they will go on to become a world famous star.

I think to at least some extent the children on this show are exploited for our entertainment and to pull on our heartstrings. There is something cruel about it which isn't quite as apparent as when you see desperate adults on the show.

I watched this last night and heard the remark directed at Bruce, both OH and went what have we missed something, so if anyone can clarify, im presuming Brucie moaning about kids on BGT, I for one am in that corner, and believe that no one under the age of 16 should be allowed or have a kiddies one, When they were on last night I channel hopped .

I liked Aaron and the 2 welsh brothers.

My favorite are the silhouette troupe, cant even remember their name

Unlike the reality check he and the other judges give to the children on his show telling them that they will go on to become a major worldwide star, or other such comments.

I think that promising the world to impressionable children is very irresponsible.

I agree that the judges need to be careful when critiquing the young acts, and shouldn't give them false hope that they have a glittering career ahead of them, but its really down to the parents to keep the kids grounded..... Most youngsters love to perform, and few will ever get further than the karaoke competition on their holidays. It would also help if they didnt draw out the suspense when doing the judges voting.... That is what adds unnecessary stress on the kids - especially like last night where the vote was between 2 kid acts.... Just say the name of the chosen one and don't put it to deadlock!

Pre Hollie Steel and her "breakdown" no child who appeared on the show seemed to show any sign of distress, and indeed - no child since has done it either. I am still convinced that the so called breakdown was staged as Hollie had previously shown no sign of nerves at her audition, at the semi final selection stage, and she was a picture of confidence in the final.... Singing a difficult and long song whilst "forgetting" the 8 lines of Edelweiss the night before.

Why should the behaviour of one child in all the years the show has been running ruin the opportunity for others to take part in the competition? Their acts often add a lot to the show, and I would love to see a child act actually win it one year - we have certainly had a few finalists who would have been worthy winners.

Exactly, the entertainment landscape was very different when Bruce started.

Can't find the like button for this post

Actually I agree with you and have posted frequently on the point that 'child' acts are inappropriate. Indeed when the Judges, and the bovine Walliams in particular, make totally unrealistic 'promises' about the future for those children they need checking. It's bad enough that it appears that some parents are willing to sacrifice their children's innocence on the altar of their own ambitions but it worse, much worse, for 'professional' judges to raise false hope in those same children, presumably to give the, (usually entirely false), impression that they really care.

My intended point in that post was that it is really nothing to do with Forsyth, who never makes any comment that isn't intended to boost his own flagging, (failing?) career and/or ego.

Yeah cause thats what will destroy that wee girl... not the pushy parents

Its 100% the parent's fault. Anything else is passing the buck.

Can't blame others for your poor parenting skills.

Thank god I'm not the only one thinking this. Blame the parents, not Simon or the show.