IT sounds like an act’s chance of ‘going viral’ – which means it being shared widely and watched by millions online – is high on Simon’s agenda this year.
Ahead of the launch of BGT’s 16th series, the head judge said he doesn’t believe you even need to win the contest anymore to become a household name.
He said: “Where things have changed a lot from where we started is it always used to be about the end prize.
“Now a good audition that goes viral can open so many doors, that’s what makes us stand out from other shows.
“I really like it when someone’s brilliant and they’ve got a regular day job, because that adds an extra level to what they’re doing and has people talk about the act afterwards.
“I learned that when Susan Boyle was on the show.”
On Saturday fans will see this Japanese act who, wait for it, shoots darts out of this bum.
The not-so-high brow contestant certainly won Simon’s approval, judging by his reaction.
And Amanda Holden says the butt-firing entertainer proves that Simon is more accepting of nonsense these days – because he reckons it helps the show go viral.
She explains: “This is the kind of thing that even two years ago, Simon would have said was low rent and buzzed him.
“Now he’s like, ‘You are going to go viral. This is the future of the show’.”
Amanda, 52, also rates the authenticity of this year’s acts.
She said: “It feels more home grown.
“It feels like stuff people would be doing in their bedrooms. It’s back to being more amateur, with people queuing up and coming in.
“Last year we had a lot of people who had struggled professionally because of lockdown, a lot of people who needed to remind themselves and their audience that they could do it, and it was great for us to be able to give them that platform after what had been a very tough time for performers.”
Meanwhile Simon, 63, has revealed he used tactics from his X Factor days, where he used to pluck one talented singer from a group.
This year he has done the same – to a pack of performing dogs.
He said with a laugh: “It was hilarious. The owner was deadly serious and told us the dogs could play instruments, and obviously they couldn’t . . . well, certainly one couldn’t.
“I just thought, ‘Why not? Split them up. Come back with the more talented one!’
“But it worked and they got through.
“That’s show business, baby!”
