ITV Britain's Got Talent viewers ask why audience were 'booing' as Ant and Dec forced to step in

The semi-finals of ITV's Britain's Got Talent made a dramatic return to our screens last night, showcasing eight more acts vying for the top spot. However, the evening began with an unexpected twist as hosts Ant and Dec were forced to intervene when one judge faced disapproval from the crowd.

As they made their way to the judges' desk to discuss the highlights from the previous week, the audience's reaction was so overwhelming that it overpowered Dec's commentary upon their arrival next to dance icon Bruno Tonioli. Dec, caught off guard by the loud boos, paused and addressed the audience directly, stating: "Thank you. Thank you. Bruno is here; we know."

This prompted a flurry of online activity, with one viewer posting on social media: "Were people booing and heckling Bruno?". Another perplexed fan wrote: "Why were they booing Bruno when he was praising the talent? The audience is so jarring. ", reports Wales Online.

A third person echoed the sentiment, asking: "Why's [the] crowd booing Bruno?". Despite the commotion, Bruno took the jeers in stride, playfully spinning in his chair and cheerfully acknowledging the crowd, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

He also shared some words of encouragement with the night's contestants before their performances, saying: "I'm always nervous before every show. "Use that to energise you. We're here; the audience is fantastic; we want to support you. Use it and enjoy it in a positive way."

The audience's jeering resumed, prompting Dec to give a knowing smirk to the camera. Ant light-heartedly voiced his wish for the evening to proceed without hitches, alluding to the previous week's hiccup when Teddy Magic "wasn't ready" to take the stage.

During a live broadcast last week, viewers were met with an unforeseen hiccup when Ant disclosed: "Now, Teddy isn't quite ready backstage yet.

"He hasn't got his magic up and ready yet, so we'll chat to you judges. ". Simon Cowell was visibly taken aback by this impromptu announcement, leading him to ask: "Hang on, so the act's not ready?".

Ant deftly responded with a light-hearted remark: "It's okay; it's live," and playfully added, "And he's only eight years old, so back off, man!". In a departure from tradition, the semi-finals of the show will unfold over five consecutive Saturday nights instead of the usual week-long run. Consequently, the grand finale is now set for broadcast on Saturday, May 31.

ITV has also confirmed the return of the Golden Buzzer for the live episodes. While the buzzer has typically been part of the audition stage, granting chosen acts a fast track to the finals, this season it will extend its influence into the live shows. Each judge, as well as Ant and Dec, will have the chance to hit the buzzer during a Saturday night performance.