Britain's Got Talent, first aired in 2007, is a talent show trying to find an act suitable to perform in front of royalty at the Royal Variety Performance. As the name suggests, the acts can be of any age, gender and even species. The first of five Britain's Got Talent 2010, aired on Monday, May 31 set the standard for the rest of the week. With some strong and some weak acts, variety was certainly not a problem.
Variety Acts
Surely there are only so many variety acts people can come up with? Evidently not. Somehow, making it into the top 40 out of thousands of people who auditioned, a 66-year-old patriot, Sean Sheehan, chopping wood. Self-professed 'king of the kindlers', was possibly the most dangerous act of the night. Which you must admit, is downhill even by the usual standards. He chopped manically whilst singing...about chopping wood. Let's not worry about the Christmas number one spot.
Despite this, there was some tough competition in last night's show. Threebee, Bollywood dancers, gave an ambitious performance - colourful, lively, traditional and contemporary at the same time. Perhaps if they had been in another night, without the strong competition, they would have made the final.
The same went for Stevie Star, the 'regurgitator'. He swallowed Amanda Holden's engagement ring, locked in a padlock, unlocked it from within his stomach, and returned it through his mouth. The mind boggles. Albeit very entertaining, it was also very sickening - which probably accounts for Stevie not making the final.
Kevin Cruise, the most camp of the camp cruise ship entertainer who idolises Jane McDonald, gave the show an upbeat tempo. The audience responded well to him and it really must have been the performance of his life. Fun and vibrant, but unfortunately not particularly talented.
Simon Cowell Gets it Right
Josh Barry, 16-year-old singer was also very well received. With a bit of a dodgy vocal and a shaky start, his confidence and decent dance moves saved his performance ending on a pleasant, but distinctly average note. Young Josh was undoubtedly hindered by the press reporting that he played Simba in the West End production of The Lion King. Simon Cowell hit the nail on the head when he said Josh would be more suited to a band.
Moving on to the top three of the night, voted for by the British public. It has to be said that they certainly made a fine choice. Making it through on public votes alone was Spellbound, who definitely cast a spell over the audience and stole the show with their fantastic display of dance and acrobats in a way never seen before on Britain's Got Talent. Many people are getting a little tired of dance troupe after dance troupe, all very talented street dancers, but they'll never live up to Diversity. Spellbound are completely different, compelling to watch, rehearsed to perfection and a definite contender to win the whole show.
Judges' Choice
Left for the judges to decide were Tobias Mead and Olivia Archbold. 14-year-old Olivia sung a little known song What If by Kate Winslet beautifully. The key change was flawless, and it was a very effortless and mature performance from the young singer. However, despite great comments off all three judges, it was not to be for Olivia. She had fierce competition in Tobias Mead. The 22-year-old body popper wowed the audience and the judges with a very intelligent, complex and witty routine unlike anything ever seen before of this show.
Unanimous votes by the judges left Tobias Mead and Spellbound to be the first acts who will make it through to the live final on Saturday June 5, 2010.
All in all it was a night of mixed talent, but certainly unique acts. It's a shame more could not have gone through, but it's also a shame some made it this far. It seems to be a promising week for the show, and with plenty more to come it appears it will not disappoint.
Laura Saron - Laura is a young and inexperienced, but eager and ambitious, nearly-qualified writer. At just 19, Laura has nearly completed a self-study ...
