Britain's Got Talent has been a staple of the ITV schedule for over a decade, but the show has lost its magic with the decision to air the live semi-finals once a week
Britain's Got Talent has consistently enthralled audiences for almost 20 years with its rapid-fire auditions, heart-tugging backstories, and the customary suspense-filled finals.
After a series of televised auditions held nationwide, viewers were then indulged with a week of consecutive live semi-final episodes from Monday to Friday, culminating in the grand final over the weekend.
However, this year, ITV have taken a radical decision to broadcast the live semi-finals once a week on Saturday evenings.
In my view, the move to weekly semi-finals has eroded the thrill that once characterised it as judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and Amanda Holden continue to offer their perspectives on this year's contestants.
The original format built momentum throughout the week, climaxing in a grand finale that felt like a genuine spectacle. Each night, a fresh group of semi-finalists performed live, and viewers felt engaged in the competition's rhythm as they voted for their preferred act to save, reports Belfast Live.
It was intense, and addictive. The stakes seemed higher when results were announced swiftly, and the excitement around each live episode carried over from one day to the next.
Now, with semi-finals spread out weekly, the sense of urgency is lost. The show feels disjointed, with momentum dissipating between episodes.
Viewers may lose track of performances from the previous week and forget who's still in the competition. Instead of a captivating, daily television event that takes place over one week in May, we're left with a diluted, protracted series struggling to maintain interest in the era of streaming and instant content.
Furthermore, despite the Saturday semi-finals being aired live, the weekly format lends the show an overly produced feel. It comes across more as filler TV than a live talent showcase.
Part of BGT's allure was its unpredictability, with acts either excelling or faltering in real time. Now, it seems almost too safe, devoid of the raw energy that once made it unique.
In their attempt to prolong the show's lifespan, the producers have inadvertently likely diminished its appeal.
In addition to this year's semi-finals being stretched into a weekly format, viewers may feel a sense of déjà vu, with acts that seldom bring anything new to the table.
Britain's Got Talent needs to reignite its sense of occasion. The magic is in the momentum, not the drag.
