Britain's Got Talent issue major change to live shows as semi-finalists confirmed

The semi-finals kickstart tonight on ITV1

The Britain's Got Talent semi-finals kickstart tonight on ITV1(Image: ITV)

The Britain's Got Talent live shows will start tonight on ITV1, as a number of hopeful contestants will battle it out for a place in the final. For the first time ever, the semi-finals will air every Saturday night over five weekends instead of consecutively over one week.

This means that the final will now take place on Saturday, May 31. If that change to the show's format wasn't enough, ITV have also announced that the Golden Buzzer will be back for the live shows.In previous years, the powerful buzzer is used in the audition process which sends contestants straight through to the finals. However, this year the Golden Buzzer will also make an appearance during the live shows. Each judge and Ant and Dec will be given the chance to use the buzzer on Saturday night.

In a statement, ITV said: "In each semi-final, either one of the judges or Ant and Dec will be given control of the golden buzzer, and as soon as they see a performance worthy of a place in the final, they will have just one opportunity to press it."

They continued: "That act will be granted a one-way ticket to the final, along with one other act from that night who will be voted in by the public."

All the golden buzzer acts through to the semi-finals:

Vinnie McKee (Simon Cowell)

Vinnie received the first Golden Buzzer of the series(Image: ITV)

The first Golden Buzzer of the series - Simon Cowell was left speechless by holiday park entertainer Vinnie's rendition of The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).

"That's mad. Things like this don't happen to people like me," Vinnie told Ant and Dec as he proudly walked off the stage. Touchingly, Ant placed a hand on Mckee's shoulder and assured the new star by replying that "things like that do happen to people like you when they are that talented".

Electric Umbrella (Simon Cowell)

Simon broke the rules for Electric Umbrella(Image: ITV)

Mixed ability band Electric Umbrella were so good that Simon broke the rules. "I feel a wave of goodness here, everything about this was good. For me, this was like being in a movie. It was spectacular. The only downside to this is I don't have any Golden Buzzers left," he said before pushing it anyway.

The group left judges and viewers at home in tears while performing an original song about inclusion, receiving a standing ovation from judges and the audience.

Olly Pearson (Amanda Holden)

Olly Pearson received Amanda's Golden Buzzer(Image: ITV)

Olly Pearson, 11, is one of the youngest Golden Buzzer acts and with his jaw-dropping guitar melody, Amanda didn't hesitate to send him straight through.

The solo guitar melody started out with AC/DC's Highway to Hell and had the whole crowd on their feet by the end. As well as Amanda, Olly greatly impressed guest judge KSI, who said he "fully deserved the golden buzzer".

“I’ve heard the King likes rock music,” Olly told the Mirror as he hopes to take the win and perform at the Royal Variety Show. “I could get him to rock out. I’d love to perform for him at the Royal Variety Show. I saw my favourite band AC/DC perform at Wembley last year and I’d love to do the same one day.”

Article continues below

Linda Mudzenda (Alesha Dixon)

Linda made the audience emotional with her stunning performance(Image: ITV)

Child support worker Linda Mudzenda was almost in tears from nerves when she walked out on stage, but her audition couldn't have gone any better. Performing a stunning rendition of Lauren Daigle's You Say, the judges and audience were in awe as she received a standing ovation.

"I think it's the first time today that I've sat through an audition and my heart was just racing out of my chest," an emotional Alesha Dixon said before pushing the all important buzzer. KSI could also be seen teary eyed as he exclaimed: "Linda, I don't normally get emotional, but it was so touching to see how you sang."

Maya Giotea (Bruno Tonioli)

Maya Giotea received the Golden Buzzer and a standing ovation with an incredible performance on BGT(Image: ITV)

It's been an amazing year for the young performers, as 14-year-old Maya Giotea took Strictly Come Dancing's Bruno Tonioli's breath away with her rendition of Beyonce's Listen.

Bruno was so impressed that he pressed the buzzer before the star had even finished her performance. as he said: "This was the most mature and accomplished version of this song I've heard from someone so young." The shock move from Bruno was branded the quickest Golden Buzzer in BGT history.

Stacey Leadbeatter (KSI)

Stacey was guest judge KSI's choice(Image: ITV)

Although KSI was filling in as a guest judge will Bruno took time out for other commitments, he still had the honour of choosing a Golden Buzzer act - as he chose Yorkshire based singer Stacey Leadbeatter.

Stacey was full of nerves before taking do the stage, but nonetheless performed a stunning rendition of Snow Patrol's Run. "The voice that came out of your mouth...I was in awe, I had to press that Golden Buzzer. You absolutely smashed it, Stacey," the YouTube star said as he joined her on stage to celebrate.

The only time Stacey had ever performed before was in a local pub. Speaking to the Mirror on what prompted her to audition, the star said: “I sing on TikTok and people said I needed to apply. When the opportunity came up, I thought it’s now or never. It’s always been a dream of mine to sing in front of Simon Cowell because I've watched him since we were a little girl. I've always wanted to impress him.”

The Blackouts (Ant and Dec)

The Blackouts had everyone on their feet(Image: ITV)

Always one to please the crowd, Ant and Dec couldn't say no when the whole crowd were telling the pair to press the buzzer after The Blackouts performance.

The group from Switzerland got the party going in their LED outfits and blackout staging as they showcased some of London's most famous landmarks in the backdrop.

The crowd were screaming so loud that the judges even had to cover their ears. An act that know how to get everyone on their feet - it's no wonder Ant and Dec wanted them in the semi-finals.

Will Burns (Ant and Dec)

Will Burns had the crowd roaring with laughter(Image: ITV)

It's no surprise Will received a Golden Buzzer from Ant and Dec as he had the crowd roaring with laughter. Hailing from Leeds, Burns performed a brilliant combination of celebrity impressions, which included a hilarious throwback of a young Dec in Byker Grove when his infamous character PJ was blinded by a paintball gun and says: "I cannot see man".

Max Fox (Amanda Holden)

Max Fox was the final Golden Buzzer(Image: ITV)

In an unexpected twist during the final auditions, Max from the audience seized his moment to take to the stage. The shocked judges allowed Max to perform in a show's first, as he impressed with his rendition of Frank Sinatra's My Way. Upon completion, the audience burst into thunderous applause, eagerly telling him he deserved the Golden Buzzer.

Without second thought, Amanda pressed the buzzer for a second time as she said: "I'm just going to say, I've already pressed my golden buzzer, so I'm in a lot of trouble because that's my second golden buzzer!" Max then declared the day as the "greatest" of his life.