Will Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan’s absence from Britain's Got Talent result in decline in viewers?
Britain’s Got Talent was watched by 9.9m on Saturday, but Feather Brooksbank broadcast account executive Audrey Migot warns that we could be witnessing the beginning of a decline.
"The fifth series of Britain’s Got Talent launched on Saturday (16th), drawing an audience of 9.9m with a 40.6% share. Undoubtedly these numbers are impressive and certainly a vast improvement on BGT’s very first episode, which aired on 9th June 2007 with 4.8m viewers. However, it’s possible that we are witnessing the beginning of a decline. The third series (which was to feature Susan Boyle) launched in April 2009 to an audience of 10.3m, while 2010 saw BGT’s highest launch figures yet (10.6m individuals).
"Unfortunately for ITV, Susan Boyle’s appearance and subsequent success has set a precedent which future performers are unlikely to match. Indeed, the majority of reviewers in the press over the last few days have commented that Saturday night’s show was lacking “a Susan Boyle moment”, though some concede that Michael Collings came close, performing Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’, complete with pre-requisite sob story.
"Previous contestants aside, we can’t ignore the (missing) elephants in the room. The absence of both Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan has changed the feel of the show, and while David Hasselhoff brings the star quality and Amanda Holden brings familiarity, Michael McIntyre seems an odd fit. Simon Cowell has promised to return for the final episodes, so let’s hope by that stage there’s some actual talent for him to judge."