Simon Cowell was left completely bewildered on Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent when co-stars Ant and Dec pulled a hilarious prank on him.
At the beginning of the clip, the duo can be seen backstage giving one of the sound crew members a microphone and being asked to place it in front of Simon.
“You didn’t see us, okay?” said Ant as they prepared for the cheeky prank.
Once the duo took the stage, Dec asked Simon if he had anything else to say before moving on.
‘I love you. I really love you,” Simon said – but soon noticed his voice sounded completely garbled and garbled.
fooled! Simon Cowell was left completely bewildered on Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent when co-stars Ant and Dec pulled a hilarious prank on him
Cheeky: At the beginning of the clip, the duo can be seen backstage giving one of the sound crew members a microphone and being asked to place it in front of Simon
Plotting: “You didn’t see us, okay?” said Ant as they prepared for the cheeky prank
Ant and Dec pretended to be surprised when the whole crowd started laughing.
“Why do I sound like that?” he said slowly, rehearsing his tone.
Judge Amanda Holden couldn’t stop herself as the whole place erupted in laughter.
‘Did you have a rough night, Simon?’ joked Dec
‘You did that, didn’t you?!’ laughed Simon as he pointed his fingers at the two guilty faces.
‘What? Us?!’ replied Ant, laughing.
‘Okay maybe… we have!’ The presenter added as everyone couldn’t stop laughing at the hilarious situation.
ITV’s favorite show returned to screens on Saturday night and appeared to open the season in big style.
Teasing: As soon as the duo took the stage, Dec asked Simon if he had anything else to say before moving on
Oops! ‘I love you. I really love you,” Simon said – but soon noticed his voice sounded completely garbled and garbled
Funny: Ant and Dec acted surprised when the whole crowd started laughing
Prank: Why do I sound like that? he said slowly, rehearsing his tone
Hilarious: Judge Amanda Holden couldn’t stop herself as the whole place erupted in laughter
Joke: ‘Have you had a rough night, Simon?’ joked Dec
According to overnight figures, the ITV show reached 6.2 million total viewers, making it the most-watched ITV show of the year.
The long-running show returned with judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and newcomer Bruno Tonioli.
And while questions have been raised about David Walliams’ departure after a decade on the panel, there appears to be no cause for concern.
An average of 5.5 million viewers tuned in to the live broadcast – that corresponds to an audience share of around 39 percent.
In addition, the show had a 45 percent share of viewers between the ages of 16 and 34.
Despite the apparent success, Britain’s Got Talent’s 16-year reign on ITV could soon be over as the show’s deal with the network nears its end.
The program is signed to the channel for two more series.
Cowell, 63, whose company Syco Entertainment owns the show, has been in talks with Channel 5 to work with them after showing his productions on ITV for almost two decades.
His five-year deal with the network ends in 2025.
BGT, which launched its latest season last night, is the last remaining program ITV is collaborating with Cowell on.
While ITV bosses believe Cowell’s meetings with other broadcasters could be part of a ploy to increase his fee when it comes time to extend the deal, some executives at the channel are trying to walk away from his shows.
A source said: “For many years, Simon and his team have been in charge, so much so that there has been significant anxiety among ITV staff.
“But as ratings have dropped the dynamic has changed and ITV is not as dependent on its shows anymore.
“And let’s not forget that Simon has spoken repeatedly about wanting to work with Netflix, Amazon and other streaming giants.
“Then of course he hooked up with Channel 5 so it would be fair to assume he’s looking for a new home for his programmes.”
TV favourite: According to overnight figures, the ITV show reached 6.2 million total viewers, making it the most-watched ITV show of the year
Judges: The long-running show returned with judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and newcomer Bruno Tonioli
Projects: Cowell, 63, whose company Syco Entertainment owns the show, has been in talks with Channel 5 to work with them after showing his productions on ITV for almost two decades
Wrong buzz: The disastrous Italian got into trouble when he excitedly pressed his golden buzzer for Ugandan dance group Ghetto Kids before they had finished their performance
In recent years, ITV has strived to air what it calls “friendly television” internally, launching shows such as The Masked Singer and Starstruck.
BGT’s wholesome image was tarnished when footage surfaced of Judge David Walliams making sexually explicit comments about contestants during the January 2020 audition.
He was replaced by former Strictly judge Tonioli. But Cowell and ITV were at odds over his appointment as the broadcaster wanted to hire Alan Carr to join the jury.
Indeed, the first live show of Britain’s Got Talent of the 2023 series descended into chaos on Saturday night when new judge Bruno sounded his golden buzzer halfway through an act’s performance.
The former Strictly star, 67, made his debut on the ITV talent show where he was quick to enjoy the entertainment on offer.
The disastrous Italian got into trouble when he excitedly buzzed his golden buzzer for Ugandan dance group Ghetto Kids before they had finished their performance.
While it’s common for judges or presenters Ant and Dec to hit the button after the performance, the talented orphans were showered with golden confetti as they danced on stage.
Despite being delighted with the golden buzzer, the group plowed through the performance and put on a great show – despite barely being able to see through the confetti.
The breathtaking moment sent both the audience and Bruno’s fellow judges into shock, with Simon explaining that this had never happened before.
As viewers at home watched the scenes unfold, they were quick to comment on Bruno’s mistake, with many declaring that they loved the chaos he brought to the show.
“I’m glad Bruno buzzed while he was doing that, that was too funny!” commented one person.
“It was such a great golden summer moment. Bruno is proving to be a mess but actually I’m quite liking it,” noted another.
A third tweeted: “Bruno’s glitches brought #BGT back to life by randomly hitting buzzer love him.”
“That’s what happens when you assume the new judge has seen the show before. I didn’t hire him because he’s a fan and Bruno broke all the rules. LOVE IT,’ said a fourth.
“Bruno has no idea but I absolutely love it,” writes a fifth viewer.
With another adding: “I don’t think anyone understands what happened tbh. Bruno threw this rule book out the window.’
After his blunder, Chief Judge Simon was quick to declare that wasn’t the case, prompting a red-faced Bruno to remark, “Oh, I’m sorry, I was wrong!”
While Ant McPartlin quipped backstage: “Somebody didn’t explain the rules of Britain’s Got Talent to them.”
Earlier in the evening, Bruno made a similar mistake when he pressed his red buzzer after telling a number it was a no from him.
Alesha was quick to remind him that Bruno doesn’t need to hit the buzzer when declining an act, and Bruno then admitted he had never seen BGT before.
As the judges and audience laughed at his mistake, Bruno – who replaced David Walliams on the show – declared: “They’re going to fire me, I know that!”
Speaking to Digital Spy and other press about his Golden Buzzer blunder, Bruno previously said, “I just had to do it. They were absolutely amazing. And then I turn and go, what did I do wrong? I had no idea.
“I did it in the performance and the whole stage is covered in gold and they keep dancing. And they were even more amazing. Now I know that you have to wait until the end.
“But then I didn’t know you could only do it once, so I did it again. And we just pass them on. But you will be so thrilled to accept what has been performed before you on such a level that it will drive audiences crazy.
Bruno’s antics left many viewers unimpressed, with some urging David to return to the show.
Oops: Alesha was quick to remind him that Bruno doesn’t need to buzz his buzzer when declining an act, with Bruno then admitting he’d never seen BGT before