Post by Alisha Meehan on May 11, 2008 2:49:08 GMT 12
Simon wants variety but Amanda's a sucker for singers!
Will emotion decide the eventual winner of TV's hottest show?
Last year, Britain's got talent found and crowned welsh singer Paul Pott's-a worthy winner for it's first season. Mobile phone salesman Paul's powerful voice had lone famale judge Amanda Holden in tears as he sang Nessun Dorma, her late grandfather Jimmy's favourite song. The there was gap-toothed Connie Talbot, the young singer who pulled at Amanda's heart strings and made it all the way to the final. This year it seems history is repeating itself and the tears have already flowed freely. But, in this whirlwind of emotion, is Simon rwady to make a stand?
A spokesperson for Britain's got talent said: 'Amanda is the heart of the show, Simon is the head and Piers works well as the bridge between them. Simon likes the dynamic but he's keen to bring a few reality checks into the proceedings. After all, Simon's eye is on the main prize-who will make a marketable winner?' That's been evident in his constant appeals to be more realistic when judging the talent, but it looks like Amanda's tears are doing all the talking again.
Last month when singer Madonna Decia-who has two daughters in the philippines she hasn't seen for six months took to the stage, Amanda broke down. After Madonna's emotionally charged version of I will always love you, Amanda opened her heart saying: 'You were singing for your children, weren't you?' Meanwhile, Simon gave a slight grimace before commenting on, 'the bad singing habits she'd picked up.' We can't help thinking that if Madonna had been on American Idol, he would have said a lot worse! So, is even Mr Nastly bowing to the 'tear factor'?
Before this series began, Simon admitted his fears about handling another set of waterworks from his co-judge. 'Amanda can be a bit of a soft touch,' he said. But there's nothing soft about Simon's investment in a series that's been hailed as bringing variety television back from the dead. As the show's spokesperson admits, 'Simon's definately looking for true variety this year.' Previous winner Paul Potts is now a singing star here and in the US. But Britain's Got Talent should be about more than just singers. When Simon first announced his plans to introduce an old-fashioned talent show in December 2005, he said: 'We're going to have magician's, jugglers and dog acts.' Yet, so far, the singers have evoked the most emotional response and ultimately the biggest impression on the viewers.
In order to live up to it's variety show status, Britain's Got Taalent needs to showcase the non-singers but, so far Amanda seems to be speaking for the nation in backing the contestants who tug most at our heartstrings!
Meanwhile, Piers, a father of three himself, appears to be firmly in the Amanda camp. He's already squared up to Bafta host Graham Norton for dismissing this season's first breakthrough act-13 year old opera singer Andrew Johnston-as a sob story whose only talent is 'being bullied' When Woman caught up with former hard-headed newspaper editor Piers, it was clearly not a case of the Britain's Got Talent boys sticking together.
'I adore Amanda,' said Piers. 'We spend alot of time in between filming talking about our children. And on the panel I really protect her.' So does that leave the business-minded Simon out on a limb? And is he really worried about who could emerge victorious this year? The shows spokesperson said: 'Simon is always reminding the acts, the judges and the audience what's at stake-impressing Prince Charles on the Royal Variet Performance. Yes, Amanda thinks like a mum but, out of all the judges, she's the only one who has actually performed on stage in front of the royals which means she's uniquely placed to give an informed verdict.' So will the tear factor uncover true Brit talent or a schmaltzy flash in the pan? In the end, as Simon is only too aware, the viewers will be the final judge of that and, so far, we haven't done badly!
Will emotion decide the eventual winner of TV's hottest show?
Last year, Britain's got talent found and crowned welsh singer Paul Pott's-a worthy winner for it's first season. Mobile phone salesman Paul's powerful voice had lone famale judge Amanda Holden in tears as he sang Nessun Dorma, her late grandfather Jimmy's favourite song. The there was gap-toothed Connie Talbot, the young singer who pulled at Amanda's heart strings and made it all the way to the final. This year it seems history is repeating itself and the tears have already flowed freely. But, in this whirlwind of emotion, is Simon rwady to make a stand?
A spokesperson for Britain's got talent said: 'Amanda is the heart of the show, Simon is the head and Piers works well as the bridge between them. Simon likes the dynamic but he's keen to bring a few reality checks into the proceedings. After all, Simon's eye is on the main prize-who will make a marketable winner?' That's been evident in his constant appeals to be more realistic when judging the talent, but it looks like Amanda's tears are doing all the talking again.
Last month when singer Madonna Decia-who has two daughters in the philippines she hasn't seen for six months took to the stage, Amanda broke down. After Madonna's emotionally charged version of I will always love you, Amanda opened her heart saying: 'You were singing for your children, weren't you?' Meanwhile, Simon gave a slight grimace before commenting on, 'the bad singing habits she'd picked up.' We can't help thinking that if Madonna had been on American Idol, he would have said a lot worse! So, is even Mr Nastly bowing to the 'tear factor'?
Before this series began, Simon admitted his fears about handling another set of waterworks from his co-judge. 'Amanda can be a bit of a soft touch,' he said. But there's nothing soft about Simon's investment in a series that's been hailed as bringing variety television back from the dead. As the show's spokesperson admits, 'Simon's definately looking for true variety this year.' Previous winner Paul Potts is now a singing star here and in the US. But Britain's Got Talent should be about more than just singers. When Simon first announced his plans to introduce an old-fashioned talent show in December 2005, he said: 'We're going to have magician's, jugglers and dog acts.' Yet, so far, the singers have evoked the most emotional response and ultimately the biggest impression on the viewers.
In order to live up to it's variety show status, Britain's Got Taalent needs to showcase the non-singers but, so far Amanda seems to be speaking for the nation in backing the contestants who tug most at our heartstrings!
Meanwhile, Piers, a father of three himself, appears to be firmly in the Amanda camp. He's already squared up to Bafta host Graham Norton for dismissing this season's first breakthrough act-13 year old opera singer Andrew Johnston-as a sob story whose only talent is 'being bullied' When Woman caught up with former hard-headed newspaper editor Piers, it was clearly not a case of the Britain's Got Talent boys sticking together.
'I adore Amanda,' said Piers. 'We spend alot of time in between filming talking about our children. And on the panel I really protect her.' So does that leave the business-minded Simon out on a limb? And is he really worried about who could emerge victorious this year? The shows spokesperson said: 'Simon is always reminding the acts, the judges and the audience what's at stake-impressing Prince Charles on the Royal Variet Performance. Yes, Amanda thinks like a mum but, out of all the judges, she's the only one who has actually performed on stage in front of the royals which means she's uniquely placed to give an informed verdict.' So will the tear factor uncover true Brit talent or a schmaltzy flash in the pan? In the end, as Simon is only too aware, the viewers will be the final judge of that and, so far, we haven't done badly!