Britain's Got Talent (series 3)
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Britain's Got Talent | |
---|---|
Series 3 | |
Broadcast from | 11 April – 30 May 2009 |
Judges | Simon Cowell Amanda Holden Piers Morgan Kelly Brook (Manchester auditions) |
Presenter(s) | Ant & Dec (ITV) |
Co-presenter(s) | Stephen Mulhern (ITV2) |
Broadcaster | ITV ITV2 (Britain's Got More Talent) |
Winner | |
Diversity | |
![]() |
|
Origin | ![]() |
Runner-up | |
Susan Boyle |
The third series of Britain's Got Talent was broadcast on ITV from 11 April 2009 to 30 May 2009. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan returned as judges. Ant & Dec returned as hosts with Stephen Mulhern coming back to present Britain's Got More Talent. Kelly Brook was originally announced as a new fourth judge, reportedly being offered £200,000 for the role,[1] but was fired after just six days, having acted as a judge in Manchester only, just one of the five audition venues. According to Cowell, the reason given for sacking Brook was because the producers decided the format was "too complicated" with four judges.[2]
Auditions took place in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, London and Cardiff. One of the most notable performances for the series was by Susan Boyle, a 48-year-old woman from Blackburn, Scotland, during the auditions. Boyle sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Misérables. The performance earned a unanimous "yes" vote and resounding astonishment from the judges.[3] Her performance helped lift the show to a launch record of 11.2 million viewers. Within five days of her initial appearance, YouTube recordings of the event had collectively generated more than 100 million views. Boyle also attracted widespread international media coverage.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
The series was won by street dance troupe Diversity, with Susan Boyle finishing second and saxophonist Julian Smith finishing third.
Contents
Judges and presenters
Initially, it was announced that Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan would return as judges for the third series of Britain's Got Talent, along with the addition of new judge Kelly Brook.[10] However, it was later announced that Brook was to leave the panel after just six days working on the show.[11] It was reported that Cowell felt "very bad"[12] following Brook's exit and that he had offered her a job in another role on the show.[13] It was also reported that Brook would receive her full £100,000 fee for appearing on the show.[14][15] According to Cowell, the reason given for sacking Brook was because the producers decided the format was "too complicated" with four judges. She has since been referred to as a "guest judge" at only Manchester.[16][17][18]
Ant & Dec returned as hosts of the main show on ITV.[19] Stephen Mulhern also returned as host of the sister-show Britain's Got More Talent.
Auditions
The application process took place throughout January and February 2009. First the judges visited Manchester for three days where they saw a total of 120 auditioners. They then visited Glasgow for a day, viewing a total of 40 auditioners. They then headed back down south to England, and to Birmingham for three days, watching a further 120 auditioners.
The next stop was London, where the judges saw a total of 128 acts over three days from Wednesday 28 January to Friday 30 January. Finally, the judges went to Cardiff for a day on Monday 3 February, where they saw 40 auditioners attempt to win their vote. Auditions were also to be held in Newcastle, but were cancelled just days beforehand.
Semi-finalists
On 23 May, the 40 semi-finalists selected from the almost 200 successful auditions in the First round Call-Backs were revealed.[20]
Key | Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Finalist | Semi-finalist (lost judges' vote) |
---|
Name / Name of act | Age(s) | Genre | Act | From | Semi | Position reached |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Grand | 12 and 76 | Singing | Grandfather and granddaughter singing duo | Doncaster, England | 4 | Finalist |
Aidan Davis | 12 (11 at audition) | Dancing | Street dancer | Birmingham, England | 5 | Finalist |
The Barrow Boys | 18–27 | Dancing | Wheelbarrow dancers | Devon, England | 3 | Semi-finalist |
Ben and Becky | 18,16 (17,16 in audition) | Dancing | Ballroom dancers | Essex, England | 3 | Semi-finalist |
Brit Chix | 23–26 | Music | Rock band | Boston, England | 4 | Semi-finalist |
Callum Francis | 12 | Performing | Musical theatre performer | Hertfordshire, England | 4 | Semi-finalist |
Darth Jackson | 37 | Dancing | Darth Vader and Michael Jackson impersonator | Birmingham, England | 1 | Semi-finalist |
DCD Seniors | 14–21 | Dancing | Dance troupe | Cardiff, Wales | 5 | Semi-finalist |
Diversity | 13–25 (12–25 in the audition) | Dancing | Street dancers | Dagenham, England | 1 | Winner |
DJ Talent | 30 | Singing | Rapper | London | 2 | Semi-finalist |
The Dreambears | 29–34 | Dancing | Comedy dancers | London | 5 | Semi-finalist |
Fabia Cerra | 35 | Dancing | Burlesque dancer | Oxford, England | 4 | Semi-finalist |
Faces of Disco | 24,30 | Comedy / Dancing | Comedy dancers | London | 1 | Semi-finalist |
Flawless | 20–31 | Dancing | Street dancers | London | 2 | Finalist |
Floral High Notes | 43,46 | Singing | Opera singing and flower arranging | Stockport, England | 3 | Semi-finalist |
Fred Bowers | 73 | Dancing | Break dancing pensioner | Loughborough, England | 4 | Semi-finalist |
Gareth Oliver | 28 | Comedy | Ventriloquism | Calderdale, England | 2 | Semi-finalist |
Good Evans | 6–42 | Singing | Singing family | Coventry, England | 5 | Semi-finalist |
Greg Pritchard | 24 | Singing | Countertenor/Male Soprano | Usk, Wales | 5 | Semi-finalist |
Harmony | 14,16 | Singing | Musical theatre performers | Essex, England | 3 | Semi-finalist |
Hollie Steel | 10 | Singing | Singer | Accrington, England | 5 | Finalist |
Hot Honeyz | 16–25 | Dancing | Dancers | Maidstone, England | 2 | Semi-finalist |
Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes | 40,2 | Dancing / Animals | Dog dancing | Oxford, England | 4 | Semi-finalist |
Jamie Pugh | 38 (37 in the audition) | Singing | Singer | Cardiff, Wales | 2 | Semi-finalist |
Julia Naidenko | 24 | Dancing | Belly dancer | London (originally Latvia) | 1 | Semi-finalist |
Julian Smith | 40 (39 in audition) | Instrumentalist | Saxophonist | Halesowen, England | 4 | 3rd Place |
Kay Oresanya | 31 | Singing | Human "saxophonist" | Glasgow, Scotland (originally Nigeria) | 3 | Semi-finalist |
Luke Clements | 36 | Miscellaneous | Fruit Juggler | Cornwall, England | 5 | Semi-finalist |
Martin "Gos" Matcham | 35 | Instrumentalist | Guitar player | Dover, England | 5 | Semi-finalist |
MD Showgroup | 9–17 | Dancing | Street dancers | Liverpool, England | 3 | Semi-finalist |
Merlin Cadogan | 35 | Stunts | Escapologist, Juggler, Breath Holder | Devon, England | 2 | Semi-finalist |
Natalie Okri | 10 | Singing | Singer | London | 1 | Semi-finalist |
Nick Hell | 26 | Stunts | Freak show/stunt performer | Sunderland, England | 1 | Semi-finalist |
Peter Coghlan (aka Mama Trish) | 48 | Performer | Drag act | Stafford, England | 2 | Semi-finalist |
Shaheen Jafargholi | 12 | Singing | Singer | Swansea, Wales | 3 | Finalist |
Shaun Smith | 17 | Singing | Singer | Lichfield, England | 2 | Finalist |
Stavros Flatley | 13,40 (12,40 in audition) | Comedy/Dancing | Comedy Dancers | London (originally Cyprus) | 3 | Finalist |
Sue Son | 24 | Instrumentalist | Electric Violinist | London | 1 | Semi-finalist |
Susan Boyle | 48 (47 in audition) | Singing | Singer | Blackburn, Scotland | 1 | 2nd Place |
Sugarfree | 16–23 | Dancing | Street dancers | Gravesend, England | 4 | Semi-finalist |
Semi-final summary
The "Order" columns lists the order of appearance each act made for every episode.
Key | ![]() |
![]() |
Won the public vote
|
Won the judges' vote
|
3rd place/ Lost the judges' vote
|
---|
Semi-final 1 (24 May)
Artist | Order | Act | Buzzes and judges' votes | Finished[21] | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowell | Holden | Morgan | |||||
Diversity | 1 | Street dancers | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd – 36.2% | Top 3 (Won judges' vote) | |
Sue Son | 2 | Electric violinist | Eliminated | ||||
Darth Jackson | 3 | Darth Vader/Michael Jackson impersonator | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Natalie Okri | 4 | Singer | ![]() |
3rd | Top 3 (Lost judges' vote) | ||
Julia Naidenko | 5 | Belly Dancer | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Nick Hell | 6 | Freakshow/stunt performer | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | |
Faces of Disco | 7 | Comedy dancers | ![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | ||
Susan Boyle | 8 | Singer | 1st – 52.1% | Top 3 (Won public vote) |
Semi-final 2 (25 May)
Artist | Order | Act | Buzzes and judges' votes | Finished[21] | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowell | Holden | Morgan | |||||
DJ Talent | 1 | Rapper | Eliminated | ||||
Merlin Cadogan | 2 | Escapologist | Eliminated | ||||
Hot Honeyz | 3 | Dancers | ![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | ||
Jamie Pugh | 4 | Singer | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Peter Coghlan (aka Mama Trish) | 5 | Drag act | ![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | ||
Gareth Oliver | 6 | Ventriloquist | ![]() |
![]() |
3rd | Top 3 (Lost judges' vote) | |
Shaun Smith | 7 | Singer | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd – 37.1% | Top 3 (Won judges' vote) | |
Flawless | 8 | Street dance troupe | 1st – 38.7% | Top 3 (Won public vote) |
Semi-final 3 (26 May)
Artist | Order | Act | Buzzes and judges' votes | Finished[21] | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowell | Holden | Morgan | |||||
Harmony | 1 | Musical theatre performers | Eliminated | ||||
Kay Oresanya | 2 | Human saxophone | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Ben and Becky | 3 | Ballroom dancers | Eliminated | ||||
Shaheen Jafargholi | 4 | Singer | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd – 26.3% | Top 3 (Won judges' vote) | |
The Barrow Boys | 5 | Wheelbarrow dancers | ![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | ||
MD Showgroup | 6 | Dancers | ![]() |
3rd | Top 3 (Lost judges' vote) | ||
Floral High Notes | 7 | Opera singing and flower arranging | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Stavros Flatley | 8 | Comedy Dancers | 1st – 50.4% | Top 3 (Won public vote) |
Semi-final 4 (28 May)
Artist | Order | Act | Buzzes and judges' votes | Finished[21] | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowell | Holden | Morgan | |||||
Sugar Free | 1 | Dancers | Eliminated | ||||
Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes | 2 | Dog act | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Callum Francis | 3 | Musical performer | ![]() |
3rd | Top 3 (Lost judges' vote) | ||
Fred Bowers | 4 | Break dancer | Eliminated | ||||
Brit Chix | 5 | Rock band | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | |
Julian Smith | 6 | Saxophonist | 1st – 56.7% | Top 3 (Won public vote) | |||
2 Grand | 7 | Singers | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd – 24.6% | Top 3 (Won judges' vote) | |
Fabia Cerra | 8 | Burlesque dancer | Eliminated |
Semi-final 5 (29 May)
Artist | Order | Act | Buzzes and judges' votes | Finished[21] | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowell | Holden | Morgan | |||||
The Dreambears | 1 | Comedy dancers | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Good Evans | 2 | Singers | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Luke Clements | 3 | Extreme Juggler | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Eliminated | |
Hollie Steel | 4 & 7 | Singer | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
2nd – 26.0% | Top 3 (Won judges' vote) |
Martin Matcham | 5 | Singer and guitarist | ![]() |
Eliminated | |||
Aidan Davis | 6 | Dancer | 1st – 50.6% | Top 3 (Won public vote) | |||
DCD Seniors | 8 | Dancers | Eliminated | ||||
Greg Pritchard | 9 | Countertenor singer | ![]() |
3rd | Top 3 (Lost judges' vote) |
Final
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Key |
Winner
|
Runner-up
|
Third place
|
---|
Order | Finished[21] | Percentage of votes [21][note 1] |
Artist | Act |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8th | 3.6% | Flawless | Dance troupe |
2 | 7th | 3.8% | Shaheen Jafargholi | Singer |
3 | 5th | 6.5% | Aidan Davis | Street dancer |
4 | 10th | 1.0% | 2 Grand | Singers |
5 | 6th | 3.9% | Hollie Steel | Singer |
6 | 4th | 16.3% | Stavros Flatley | Greek/Irish comedy dancers |
7 | 9th | 3.4% | Shaun Smith | Singer |
8 | 2nd | 20.2% | Susan Boyle | Singer |
9 | 1st | 24.9% | Diversity | Dance troupe |
10 | 3rd | 16.4% | Julian Smith | Saxophonist |
Footnotes
Ratings
Show | Date | Official ITV1 rating (millions)[22] |
Weekly rank[22] | Share |
---|---|---|---|---|
Auditions 1 | 11 April | 11.21 | 1 | 45.1%[23] |
Auditions 2 | 18 April | 12.95 | 1 | 50.6%[24] |
Auditions 3 | 25 April | 13.21 | 1 | 52.3%[25] |
Auditions 4 | 2 May | 11.30 | 1 | 47.2%[26] |
Auditions 5 | 9 May | 11.98 | 1 | 48.4%[27] |
Auditions 6 | 16 May | 11.09 | 1 | 41.0%[28] |
Auditions 7 | 23 May | 12.62 | 2 | 51.1%[29] |
Semi-final 1 | 24 May | 12.93 | 1 | 49.2%[30] |
Semi-final 2 | 25 May | 14.66 | 3 | 51.6%[31] |
Semi-final 3 | 26 May | 13.56 | 5 | 49.9%[32] |
Semi-final 4 | 28 May | 13.11 | 6 | 51.2%[33] |
Semi-final 5 | 29 May | 13.84 | 4 | 57.3%[34] |
Live final | 30 May | 16.36 | 2 | 71%[35] |
Live final results | 18.29 | 1 | 67.6%[35] | |
Series average | 2009 | 13.36 | 2 (2.14) | 52.4% |
- The auditions 6 episode took a large dip in numbers due to BBC One's broadcast of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
- The final peaked at 19.19 million (71.6%) making it the most watched non-sporting event since a 2003 episode of Coronation Street. Overall, the final was the fifth most watched programme of the century.
- The series officially averaged 13.36m (52.4%), making it the most watched British reality series of the 21st century. It easily surpasses the previous record of 10.51m (42%) gained by the fifth series of The X Factor.
Controversies
Performance order
Although the show denies that the three judges influence performance order,[36] the production company has never confirmed that order is random or based on any objective criteria. The lack of objective criteria is underlined by Morgan's comments four few days after the final: "I think Flawless were unlucky to have gone on first. If they had gone last it may have been different. They're both amazing dance groups. Diversity were just very lucky."[37]
Fabia Cerra
Burlesque dancer Fabia Cerra sparked complaints after her performance in the audition stages was criticised as being unsuitable for a family audience. Cerra undid the top half of her clothing, revealing her breasts, covered with tassels, although the editing of the program included two Union Jack flags as graphics to completely cover her exposed breasts. Despite this, both the producers of the show and ITV received 40 complaints.[38]
Fred Bowers
Elderly breakdancer Fred Bowers, who did make into the live semi-finals, was also reported to have made disability claims for his leg, despite having no obvious major problems with it. Since the story emerged in the media, Bowers vowed to pay all the money owed back if he was found to be in the wrong. He died in 2012.[39]
Natalie Okri
Natalie Okri's performance of Jamelia's "Superstar" in the semi-final was criticised by Simon Cowell for being a bad choice of song. After reaching the Top 3 with dance troupe Diversity in the first semi-final, Okri cried on stage after Simon Cowell chose to put Diversity through to the final instead of her. Following this, Lily Allen called the show, saying Cowell's decision, "bordering on child cruelty". After the show, Okri and her mother complained that the song choice was made by the producers and they had been given no choice but to accept.[40]
Susan Boyle
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) became concerned by press reports about Susan Boyle's erratic behaviour and speculation about her mental condition, and wrote to remind editors about clause 3 (privacy) of their code of press conduct.[41] The day after the final, Boyle was admitted to The Priory, a private psychiatric clinic in London,[42] TalkbackThames explained "Following Saturday night's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained." Her stay in hospital attracted widespread attention with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, wishing her well.[43]
Hollie Steel
In the fifth and last semi-final, contestant Hollie Steel broke down, crying uncontrollably during her performance of "Edelweiss" and was unable to continue singing. After initially being told by Ant & Dec that there was not enough time for her to restart her performance, Simon Cowell over-ruled and she sang the song from scratch again after street dancer and fellow finalist Aidan Davis, complete with judges' comments. She also beat rock opera singer Greg Pritchard in the judges' vote on the basis of her bravery, which was again seen as unfair. Steel has been the only act allowed to restart throughout the entire series, and the time that was found for her second performance forced later acts to be rushed into smaller time slots, which may have hampered their performances as a consequence.[44]
Jamie Pugh
Welsh pizza delivery man Jamie Pugh was branded as a fake following his Cardiff audition. When Cowell asked him if he had ever performed in public, a seemingly nervous Pugh replied that he had not. It later emerged that he had previous West End experience, with videos exposed by The Sun showing him singing in front of an audience at Her Majesty's Theatre.[45] Holden later regretted her decision to put him through to the next round, describing him as "a very weak Paul Potts."[46]
References
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- ↑ Susan Boyle shows 13.6m she's Got Talent Archived 1 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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- ↑ Exposed: Britain's Got Talent star Jamie Pugh has already performed in the West End
- ↑ Holden says Jamie Pugh is 'fake'