Britain's Got Talent (series 2)

Infobox Television
show_name = Britain's Got Talent (series 2)


genre = Talent show
picture_format = 16:9
runtime = 60 minutes (inc. comms)
presenter = "Britain's Got Talent":
Anthony McPartlin,
Declan Donnelly
"Britain's Got More Talent":
Stephen Mulhern
judges = Simon Cowell,
Amanda Holden,
Piers Morgan
network = ITV
first_aired = 12 April 2008
last_aired = 31 May 2008
producer = SYCO TV in association with talkbackTHAMES

The 2008 series of "Britain's Got Talent" was the second series of the show. Notable differences from the 2007 series the included the fact that the auditions visited Scotland and that there were 40 in the live semi-finals. The series also ran for longer, this time airing seven weeks instead of one.

Ant and Dec returned as hosts, with Stephen Mulhern coming back to present "Britain's Got More Talent". Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan returned as judges.

The first 7 shows were auditions that went to London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and for the first time Blackpool and Glasgow . They was shown from the 12 April to the 24 May.The next 7 Shows were the live semi-finals, the live final and the live final results show. They was shown from the 26 May to the 31 May

The series was ultimately won by street dancer George Sampson, with dance group Signature coming in second and singer Andrew Johnston in third.

emi-Final Acts

Final acts

On 24 May 2008, the judges announced the 40 acts that have made it through to the live semi-finals. [ [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/showbiz/showbiznews/2008/05/25/the-fab-40-in-the-britain-s-got-talent-final-98487-20428464/ Top 40 Acts] ] A total of 10 acts made the grand final on 31 May 2008.
The winner was George Sampson, who was invited to perform an encore of his 'Singin' in the Rain' routine.

**Simon Cowell buzzed Phil Blackmore's act just after it finished.

Buzzers

emi-Final 3

**Amanda Holden stated after the act that Simon Cowell pressed her buzzer.

Buzzers

Final

Final Results

Ratings

*Show 1 (Saturday, 12 April 2008 at 19:45) - 8.8 million (37.0% share) - peak: 9.8m (40.4%) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/14/tvratings.television TV ratings - April 12: Britain's Got Talent back with 8.8m | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 2 (Saturday, 19 April 2008 at 20:05) - 10.3 million (43.3% share) - peak: 10.6m (43.4%) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/21/tvratings.television1 TV ratings - April 19: Ratings soar for Britain's Got Talent | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 3 (Saturday, 26 April 2008 at 20:05) - 9.4 million (41.3% share) - peak: 9.8m (42.0%) [ [http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/reevells/2008/04/international_formats_bolster_itv_weekend.html International formats bolster ITV weekend ] ]
*Show 4 (Saturday, 3 May 2008 at 20:05) - 8.5 million (39.1% share) - peak: 8.8m (39.8%) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/06/tvratings.television2 TV ratings - May 3: Talent shines but viewers head outdoors | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 5 (Saturday, 10 May 2008 at 20:00) - 7.5 million (37.9% share) - peak: 8.5m (41.5%) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/12/tvratings.television2 TV ratings - May 10: Talent sizzles as heat hits ratings | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 6 (Saturday, 17 May 2008 at 20:00) - 8.6 million (37.5% share) - peak: 9.6m (42.4%) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/19/tvratings.television2 TV ratings - May 17: FA Cup final scores a ratings victory | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 7 (Saturday, 24 May 2008 at 20:00) - 7.7 million (37.2% share) - peak: 8.2m (38.8%) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/27/tvratings.television3 TV ratings: 7.1m UK viewers tune in to Eurovision | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 8 - Semi Final 1 (Monday, 26 May 2008 at 21:00) - 10.9 million (42.0% share) - peak: 12.2m [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/27/tvratings.television TV ratings - May 26: Britain's Got Talent dances off with honours | Media | guardian.co.uk ] ]
*Show 9 - Semi Final 2 (Tuesday, 27 May 2008 at 20:30) - 8.8 million (35.3% share) - peak: 9.6m (37.5%) [ [http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/05/itv1_delivers_masterclass_to_the_apprentice.html ITV1 delivers masterclass to The Apprentice ] ]
*Show 10 - Semi Final 3 (Wednesday, 28 May 2008 at 20:30) - 9.3 million (35.9% share) - peak: 10.1m (39.2%) [ [http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/05/28m_get_the_mary_whitehouse_experience.html 2.8m get the Mary Whitehouse experience ] ]
*Show 11 - Semi Final 4 (Thursday, 29 May 2008 at 20:30) - 9.7 million (41.9% share) - peak: 10.5m (44.5%) [ [http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/05/thursday_peaktime_blues_for_bbc1.html Thursday peaktime blues for BBC1 ] ]
*Show 12 - Semi Final 5 (Friday, 30 May 2008 at 21:00) - 11.4 million (50% share) - peak: 12.5m [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=508185&page=470 Ratings Thread - Page 470 - TV Programmes - Digital Spy Forums ] ]
*Show 13 - Final: Performances (Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 18:50) - 11.0 million (51.1% share) - peak: 14.0m (62%) [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz/s/1052093_britains_got_talent_wins_ratings_war Britain's Got Talent wins ratings war - Showbiz - News - Manchester Evening News ] ]
*Show 14 - Final: Results (Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 21:30) - 13.1 million (55.1% share) - peak: 14.4m (60%)

Series average - 9.6 Million (42% share).

The audition shows averaged 8.7m (39%). The live shows are averaged 10.5m (43%).

The second series of Britain's Got Talent was a huge ratings success. [ [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/05/31/reality-tv-hurts-too-much-91466-21002139/ Reality TV hurts too much - WalesOnline ] ] The final results episode was the most watched programme of 2008. It was also the most watched episode of any talent show this century. The previous record was the Pop Idol 1 final, which had an official average of 13.34m. [ [http://www.barb.co.uk/25years/top10.php?section=events&callyear=2002 BARB since 1981 ] ] Furthermore, the final results episode was the most watched episode of any non-soap opera television show since 2004 (when I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! officially got 14.99m for its final). [ [http://www.barb.co.uk/25years/top10.php?section=events&callyear=2004 BARB since 1981 ] ] The moment when George Sampson was announced winner, in front of 14.4 million viewers, was the 2nd most watched moment of 2008. The most watched moment of 2008 was the penalty shootout in the Champions League final which attracted 14.6m viewers. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/money/2008/05/22/bcnitv122.xml Champions League final: Penalty shoot-out was most watched TV moment this year - Telegraph ] ] This series of Britain's Got Talent had the highest series average out of any talent show this century with an overnight average of 9.6m viewers. The previous best talent series was Dancing on Ice 2006 which officially averaged 9.12m viewers. The final results episode was the 13th most watched programme of the 21st Century. Excluding sports, it was the 10th most watched programme of the 21st Century. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=508185&page=474 Ratings Thread - Page 474 - TV Programmes - Digital Spy Forums ] ]

Controversy

Andrew Johnston

In a 18 April 2008 article by British newspaper the "Daily Mail", the mother of young contestant Andrew Johnston admitted that their story had been "over-egged" and the truth in the reality is, they do not live in a stereotypical council estate - like he had claimed during a previous interview for the talent show. He pulled on even more heartstrings when he claimed he was bullied but in fact, the bullying he allegedly sustained was early on in his life, and it was not a recent and regular occurrence.The show's producers were accused of misleading the viewers and enhancing a "sob story". [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-560637/Is-Britains-Got-Talent-choirboy-REALLY-bullied-kid-sink-estate-His-mother-admits-The-pudding-egged.html Is the Britain's Got Talent choirboy REALLY a bullied kid from a sink estate?]

eScala

"Scala" (now eScala) also attracted attention from the press - the four members of the band are professional musicians who played for McFly as part of a large orchestra on their UK tour in 2006. They are signed to an entertainment agency, and were invited to audition for "Britain's Got Talent" by Simon Cowell after they played the X Factor wrap party in late 2007. An ITV1 spokesman refused claims this was unfair, stating "Scala went through the same application and audition process as everyone else. "Britain's Got Talent" is open to any performer be it professional or amateur, with any talent." [ [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2008/04/13/britain-s-got-talent-scala-are-bunch-of-real-pros-98487-20380925/ Scala Are Bunch Of Real Pros] ] Two of the four members of eScala were part of a similar five-piece classical group called Wild, who were signed to EMI and released an album with the label in 2005. [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/you/article-1019207/Scala-em-Britains-Got-Talent-em-electrify-Simon-Cowell.html Scala on Britain's Got Talent electrify Simon Cowell] ] The quartet were then required to change their name from Scala to eScala. According to a report published in the "Daily Mirror". "Scala were forced to change their name because it belongs to a female voice choir in Belgium. The girls changed to eScala after EMI threatened to sue, despite having used it for two years." [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/05/30/britain-s-got-talent-row-over-scala-s-name-89520-20588644/ Britain's Got Talent: row over Scala's name] ]

Faryl Smith

"The Sunday Mirror" and "Digital Spy" both reported that Simon Cowell arranged for free singing lessons to be delivered by leading vocal coach Yvie Burnett to 12-year old vocalist Faryl Smith. Burnett previously coached 2007 "BGT" winner Paul Potts and 2006 "The X Factor" winner Leona Lewis. [ [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2008/05/11/ave-few-lessons-98487-20413646/ Simon Cowell's secret singing lessons for Britain's Got Talent's Faryl Smith] ] [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a95669/young-talent-star-gets-secret-coaching.html Young 'Talent' star gets secret coaching] ]

Voting

Britain's Got Talent bosses were accused of fixing the show by manipulating the viewers’ vote, by the fans. In all five semi-finals of series 2, the semi-finalist performing last won the public vote and made it through to the final. The same thing happened in the first series, with the last performer receiving the top acclaim, including in the final. Readers of the "Daily Star" say complaints have been flooding in, but bosses have denied all allegations. A spokeswoman for the hit TV show claimed that the pattern noticed by viewers was “nothing more than a coincidence”. She also added: "The judges have no say over the running order on the show." [ [http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/39244/TV-talent-show-rigged-say-fans TV Talent Show Rigged, Say Fans] ] [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1022937/Child-opera-star-plumber-sing-way-Britains-Got-Talent-final.html Britain's Got Talent embroiled in rigging scandal: Viewers accuse bosses of fixing show] ]

ee also

*Britain's Got Talent
*Britain's Got Talent (series 1)

References

External links

*itv.com|id=talent|title="Britain's Got Talent"