The Britain's Got Talent semi-final has reportedly been moved to avoid a scheduling clash with the Eurovision Song Contest. The 19th series of the talent show returned to screens in February, and fans will soon discover who will be crowned the winner.
Semi-Final Schedule Change
The first semi-final aired on April 25, followed by the most recent broadcast on May 2 between 7pm and 9pm. According to the SuperTV X account, the fourth semi-final will air on May 16 on ITV an hour earlier, meaning it will be broadcast between 6pm and 8pm. This adjustment is believed to avoid a clash with the Eurovision grand final, hosted by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, which will air live on BBC One from 8pm. The Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment.
Eurovision Details
The Eurovision final will conclude at 11:30pm, following the semi-finals on Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 14, on BBC One from 8pm. The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. Representing the UK is Sam Battle, known as Look Mum No Computer, a solo artist who expressed his excitement: "I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously. I've been working a long time creating, writing, and producing my own visions from scratch, and documenting my process. I will be bringing every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I can't wait for everyone to hear and see what we've created. I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!"
Austria won last year, with singer JJ performing "Wasted Love" and proudly holding the trophy.
Ofcom Complaints
Last month, Britain's Got Talent faced a wave of Ofcom complaints after viewers criticised a machete stunt deemed "too dangerous for TV." Fans of the ITV programme contacted the broadcasting regulator to express concern over the decision to air the knife trick. Fakir Testa took the stage in a death-defying audition earlier this month, suspended in the air with a long machete around his neck. The 45-year-old demonstrated his strength by holding himself up using the machete while pulling a car across the stage with the same knife. Fans took to social media to complain that the act made them feel "sick," as Testa also used machetes as steps on a ladder he climbed barefoot. The audience covered their faces and shouted in concern as the stuntman continued. Judges Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon were unable to watch and pressed their red buzzers. Viewers saw multiple "do not try this at home" warnings throughout the two-minute performance. Ofcom revealed they received 151 complaints from viewers after the act was broadcast on the Saturday night show. An Ofcom spokesperson told The Sun: "The majority of complaints related to Fakir Testa's audition."
Dozens of viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to complain about the use of machetes, calling it "f***ing lunacy." One wrote: "F***s sake. This is on pre watershed. Do better ITV," while another said: "This is NOT talent! This is f***** lunacy." Another simply felt "sick" watching, and a fourth added: "I can't watch! Why are they showing this for family entertainment?"
This is not the first time a BGT act has drawn Ofcom complaints. Earlier this month, the show received over 100 complaints after a stomach-churning act left a man bleeding on stage. Viewers fumed, "Why on earth would they broadcast that?" as Leroy Patterson, 42, shocked everyone with his unusual act. A total of 108 complaints were submitted to the broadcasting watchdog. Leroy, from Los Angeles, quickly took off his t-shirt and jeans live on stage, sparking confusion. He then demonstrated three safety tips: first, launching his bare stomach onto a bed of mousetraps; second, sitting on a chair covered in strips with hundreds of sharp nails; and third, turning on a weed strimmer and running through it, sustaining multiple cuts. He said: "Lesson number one, if you find yourself in front of a pile of mouse traps, do not do this." After his acts, KSI asked "what do we call that?" and Leroy laughed, replying "Stupidity." KSI said: "I wanted something that's going to make me squirm, something dangerous - and Leroy came and answered." Both Alesha and Stacey said no, but KSI got the audience involved in a chant to keep him, and he eventually got three yeses. Horrified viewers took to X, writing: "I bet OFCOM will hear about this," "He's bleeding what the hell he took this too far definitely not a talent," "Mousetraps... you nutter," "GET HIM OFF!!!!!!", "I don't need to throw my dinner back up thank you," "Why in God green earth would they even broadcast that?!?!?!", "Ok on late night tv. But not for me granny or grandchildren's viewing on prime time Saturday night tv," "So hows that a talent? Pure stupidity," and "Don't try this at home! Really surprised they showed this, just stupidity!!!"
Britain's Got Talent airs Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
