ITV BGT bosses told 'public don't want this' as show undergoes major format change and extended time on air
ITV's Britain's Got Talent is reportedly set to make a huge change
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ITV has reportedly announced that the next series of Britain's Got Talent will undergo a major shift to its scheduling format.
According to reports, the 2025 series of the long-running programme will launch in the first quarter of 2025, hitting screens in February rather than April.
This will mean the semi-finals will air on a weekly basis on Saturday nights rather than airing nightly over the course of one week.
According to TVZone, the change will make up for the loss of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which normally airs at the start of the year.
The publication detailed that the length of the series will remain the same, consisting of eight audition episodes, five semi-finals and a live final.
Speaking to advertisers, ITV reportedly said: "With more Britain’s Got Talent fun filled Saturday nights of entertainment than ever before, families across the nation will have the opportunity to celebrate and be entertained by the incredible diversity of British talent, and your brand could become a part of this cultural zeitgeist too."
ITV's Britain's Got Talent is reportedly set to make a huge change
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Speaking to GB News, a Britain's Got Talent spokesperson said: "Scheduling will be announced in due course."
However, fans responding to the update don't seem very keen on the format shake-up, with many complaining about the change on social media.
"BGT has gotta be a money laundering operation at this point, how has it not been cancelled yet," one person fumed harshly on X.
Another penned: "They confused the calls for Britain's Got More Talent with more Britain's Got Talent. *sigh*".
The reported change will see ITV's Britain's Got Talent star airing in February rather than April
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"…why tho," a third simply asked, with a fourth predicting: "Ratings will take a hit."
"Basically ITV have no new ideas to commission new shows so bombard us with the old and tired," another shared.
"The PUBLIC don’t want this," someone else declared, while another viewer posted: "That's way overkill".
Others welcomed the news though, with someone else adding: "Amazing now I might actually watch it." (sic)
Reporting on the rumoured changes back in May, The Sun reported the show is reaching the end of its five-year contract next year.
The publication detailed that ITV, boosted by 24 billion total Britain's Got Talent views online, is expected to agree to another deal.
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Fans have slammed Britain's Got Talent's change in format
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It stated that across the night of broadcast and the seven-day catch-up on ITVX, Britain's Got Talent attracts seven million viewers on average, which is down from 13 million in 2009.
However, the show reportedly has a huge potential for earnings online, with a TV insider telling The Sun earlier this year: "BGT has been on since 2007 and viewing numbers are higher than ever — it’s just fans are watching it differently.
"Having over seven million viewers makes it the most-watched entertainment show after I'm A Celebrity. Stretching BGT over three months could make it even more of a presence.
"Online is where advertisers are now pumping in their money, but to get the clips they need the show."