Simon Cowell: "As soon as I was out David was in that chair"
The dream team are back on the Judging panel with Simon Cowell once again at the helm - although this year he has had a contender to his throne.
We grilled the man himself to suss out the situation with the bromance, see whether he has his eye on one act in particular and find out if fatherhood has softened Simon.
When you had to leave the London auditions to fly to New York for Eric’s birth, David seemed to take on the mantle of Head Judge. How do you keep him in his place?
Do you know what, he couldn’t get into that seat quick enough. He was praying for Lauren to give birth early. Infact I’m sure he called her up saying, ‘Push! Push!’ Because as soon as I was out he was in that chair, but it’s only going to happen once trust me!
He’s really got annoying this year. He was kind of amusing before but God forbid I make the audience laugh more than he does - he gets quite dark.
Seriously, I was thinking about it when I was working with him. It’s like having a child who’s suddenly turned into a giant at the age of 11. He is honestly mentally an 11-year-old in this huge body. He has got a kind side but he can be very, very annoying to work with.
Last year, Alesha and Amanda had a ‘girl power’ moment. Do you fear the pair of them ganging up on you and David again – especially during live shows?
Yeah, I did notice this awful pact between the two girls last year and the so-called ‘girl power’ and I think they will probably do the same thing again.
I think, actually, Alesha probably isn’t quite so keen on this anymore. I think she’s grown out of it! I think she’s very good with the dance acts, she’s done a good job this year andI think she’s got more excited by the music acts this year as well.
Are you as impressed with the other Judges’ Golden Buzzer choices as your own?
No, Alesha’s I liked, Amanda’s I got. Ant & Dec I wasn’t there, my one was great and David’s one was a complete joke. I mean, seriously, a total joke.
Do ‘back stories’ actually put you off contestants before they audition these days?
I’m put off when it becomes more important than their talent and I hate it when people are actually revelling in their back stories. In fact, they actually rehearse their back stories more than their audition. Sometimes they don’t even have an audition they just come with a back story and I can’t actually do anything.
We’ve had a dancing dog and shadow dancers triumph in the last two years but what is the most outlandish act you’ve seen that could possibly winBGT this year?
We have found these incredible motorbike stunt riders, who are amazing. I’m amazed that half of them didn’t get killed. Love them. They’re like modern day Evel Knievels.
We also found a dancing owl that didn’t dance, so no fear of that winning. The one I’m dreading winning is a fashion designer, who in my opinion is the worst fashion designer of all time –and somehow he’s made it through to the finals because David, Amanda and Alesha are on the judging panel. I swear to God I don’t know what they’re seeing because I’m seeing something very different.
A foreign act won the show last year. Would you be happy for a foreign act to win again in 2014?
If I’m honest with you I love the fact that people from other countries enter this show as it’s actually a compliment that they don’t want do it in their own countries because they feel that BGT is the best world showcase. But obviously, because I’m British, I would prefer a Brit winning.
Aside from the Susan Boyle moment, what is, for you, the most memorable performance in the show’s history?
The first Paul Potts audition – that’s when we knew the show was going to really work. Connie Talbot’s first audition. Normally, I’m not a fan of kid singers but when she sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow and I saw 3,000 people going nuts afterwards, I thought she was terrific. Attraction’s was good, seeing Ashley & Pudsey for the first time I liked. I like all the animal acts.
Now you’re a father, do you think there’s a chance you might actually shed a tear when it comes to heartfelt performances at the live shows?
Doubtful!