Britain’s Got Talent

Channel Five’s new owner Richmond Desmond has immediately made sweeping changes with jobs slashed and grand plans for future programming, but will it lead to increased audiences? Fives overall share slipped to 4.8% from 5% in 2009 and Paddy Power does not see that improving with an audience share of between 4.5-5% the 9/4 favourite and worryingly the next most likely scenario is a big slide to 4-4.5% at 5/2.

Ian Wright has been the first on-screen casualty and rumours abound that Natasha Kaplinsky will leave at the end of her contract in December. Paddy Power has Matt Barbet as the 13/8 favourite followed closely by Anna Botting at 9/4 to take her place.

The new ambitious plans include buying the rights to popular shows and Big Brother is 5/4 to be the first show brought to Five. To turn the channels fortunes around other big shows will need to be targeted, a revival of Top of the Pops is 11/4, whilst two ITV’s biggest shows I’m a celebrity and x-factor is 16/1 and 25/1 respectively.

Roberto Coladangelo spokesman for Paddy Power said “Desmond has a big challenge to breathe new life into Five and increase the channels audience share. If he is a ruthless at buying shows as is with handing out P45s it will not be a surprise to see some of the biggest programmes finding a new home on Five.” (more…)

With the final of Britain’s Got Talent 2010 taking place this weekend, we take a closer look at the runners and riders as the country’s favourite talent show comes to a climax.

Spellbound – currently 11/10
Spellbound are an awesome spectacle who really seem to have so much action going on wherever you look. They push gymnastics to the limit and were banned from performing a stunt in their semi-final as it was deemed too dangerous. They have been favourites from the start, and are currently available at a best price 11/10 but these are likely to go off odds-on jollies come Saturday night. I feel they are the best performers, but they don’t make you laugh or have the sympathy vote like the very old and very young or the appeal of a cute dog; therefore, they may struggle to get the votes they need to win the final, you can back the field at 4/6 in Blue Square’s market Spellbound v the field.

Paul Burling – currently 5/1
This act has been a revelation from performing in holiday parks to one of the best impressionists in the country in the matter of weeks. His first audition was very clever, and the semi-final verywell scripted and structured. My only concern is the Harry Hill act may start to get to repetitive; having said that, it functions as a comfortable platform to bring in other material and has been a hit with the audiences. I think this comedian has what it takes to win. He is currently 5/1 and with each-way available it will be hard to see him outside the top 3.

Tina and Chandi – currently 13/2
A 12 year-old rescue dog and her owner perform some of the most entertaining dancing and acting in the history of BGT. Chandi is such a clever animal, so well trained and seems to love every minute of performing. With the background story of being a rescue dog and Britain being a nation of dog lovers, this act has a real chance of winning people over on the night. BlueSq offered 100/1 for a dancing dog act to win before the auditions and there are many punters hoping this very special act will win them the big money. My only concern is that animals can be temperamental; however, Chandi never seems nervous and seems to love what she does; I think the nation’s hearts will give this act a top 3 place and if enough dog lovers vote, they could even take the top spot.

Janey Cutler – currently  15/2
From small club in Scotland to BGT in front of 10 Million people, yet Janey acts as though she is in her living room singing in front of the TV.  I thought her audition was superb but was disappointed by her semi-final appearance; although I must have been in the minority as she won through with a lot of praise from the judges. I believe she will win a lot of people over with her age and if Scotland gets behind her, she has a real chance of becoming the oldest winner of the show. She is 15/2 to win or you may fancy 7/2 to win without Spellbound.

Liam McNally – currently 10/1
At time of writing Liam hasn’t even qualified for the final but if he performs anything like he did in the auditions he will win his semi-final with ease, Blue Square price him at 1/3 to do so. Assuming he can hold off the nerves he has every chance of impressing the judges in the final and being so young, lots of people will want to support him. Currently 10/1 which will surely shorten if he wins his semi-final as predicted, and with Spellbound so short is probably worth an each-way interest.

Twist and Pulse – currently 14/1
A very entertaining double act, maybe one to upstage Ant and Dec. They put together all their own material and have real flair and passion in their dancing. I think they are the best dance act this year and with the popularity of dance acts at the moment, I wouldn’t bet against them being up there in the final. At 14/1, or 7/1 without Spellbound you could see a decent return for your money.

Tobias Mead – currently 25/1
Another good new dance act, not too dissimilar to Twist and Pulse with good use of music and sound effects to compliment his moves. Having been overshadowed by Spellbound in his semi-final; I think maybe he has been written off too early and at 25/1, or 14/1 without Spellbound there are some big prices to have a small interest.

Connected – currently 22/1
Touted as the next Take That; for me they are somewhat overrated and it is surely a bit early to be making such statements. They are fairly good singers as a whole but one or two let the group down. It also seems like they have been pushed together by their parents. In time, they may prove to be a really good act but at present it is too early for them; they are young and will get votes but I can’t see it, they are 22/1 if you disagree.

Christopher Stone – currently 33/1
The singing accountant; has said he has not given up his day job which is just as well as I can’t see him making a career out of singing. For me, Neil Fullard – the bouncer – was a better singer but in a tougher semi-final. Christopher is a good singer, however,  nerves troubled him in the audition and may creep back in the final. 33/1 is there but competing with Janey, I don’t think he has a chance.

Myztikal – currently 40/1
Again, this act have yet to reach the final and are 6/4 to do so tonight. I think the judges are keen to put a dance group through to balance up the final, and with Liam a banker to win their semi tonight, it is likely to be between Myztikal and Kieran Gaffney. I have an inclination that the judges will pick Myztikal, but come the final they will be compared to Diversity and will probably be ignored by the voters as a result.

A dancing dog named Chandi is threatening to become the first animal to win Britain’s Got Talent after wowing the judges and the public in the second live semi final.

Paddy Power have slashed the odds on the rescue dog and her owner and trainer Tina winning this year’s Britain’s Got Talent to just 5/1 from 25/1, second only to acrobatic gymnasts Spelbound at 5/6.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “The fantastic thing about Britain’s Got Talent is anyone can take the lead if they give an amazing performance. Chandi and Tina didn’t put one foot or paw wrong – 2010 could be the year we see the first animal act win Britain’s Got Talent and perform for the Queen!”

Cute young boy band Connected, who also made it through to Saturday’s final, has slipped to 14/1 behind street dancer Tobias Mead at 12/1. (more…)

Acrobatic gymnasts Spellbound have leaped into pole position to be crowned this year’s Britain’s Got Talent winners.

The 13-strong troupe ranging in age from twelve to twenty-four, who wowed the audience and the judges with their ‘Fire and Ice’ performance in the first of the shows semi-finals on Monday night are now odds-on at 10/11 with Paddy Power to win the whole thing!

And not only that, Paddy Power are also tipping the group for global success after attracting interest from the US. It’s just 7/4 that Spellbound follow on the same path as internet sensation Susan Boyle and appear on the Oprah Winfrey show before the year is out. Their YouTube video, which currently boasts more than 2 million hits, is being tipped to exceed 5 million hits before the week is out!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “Spellbound really do live up to their name. They had the audience literally spellbound on Monday night. They are more unique than any dance act we’ve seen yet and at the moment they’re the ones to beat this year!”

The closest acts to Spellbound on the bookies list of odds are cute young boy band Connected at 9/1 and street dancer Tobias Mead, who also qualified for the final on Monday night, at 10/1. (more…)

Britain’s Got Talent has finally made the cut and been nominated for its first ever BAFTA TV Award. The hugely popular show that discovered internet sensation Susan Boyle is nominated in the Best Entertainment Category and is not surprisingly the 7/4 favourite with Paddy Power to scoop the award.

Britain’s Got Talent goes head to head with previous winner Harry Hill’s TV Burp at 2/1, Channel 4’s Newswipe with Charlie Brooker at 3/1 and The Graham Norton Show at 4/1.

Meanwhile in other categories, BBC One’s Eastenders is the 6/4 favourite to pip Coronation Street to the post for the Best Continuing Drama while E4’s The Misfits are the 7/4 favourites with Paddy Power to win Best Drama Series. In the Best Sport category, coverage of the UEFA Champions League is the one to watch at 6/5.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “It’s great to see Britain’s Got Talent finally get a BAFTA nod. With such a massive audience and appeal across all age groups it would be very surprising if they didn’t get recognised this year.” (more…)

Britain’s Got Talent returns to our screens on Saturday and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever with bookies Paddy Power betting 13/8 that between 12million and 14million people will tune in to the premier show!

This years mixed bag of contestants are being kept firmly under wraps but Paddy Power are already betting on who will impress the judges and the public the most to win this year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent.

It’s just 6/4 that this year’s show will be won by a solo singer, 4/1 a dance group taps their way to victory and 8/1 a Pet Performer walks away with the £100,000 prize. A saucy stripper is 80/1 to go the distance while a mime artist is a bit shy of the favourites at 100/1.

With so many ‘interesting acts’ to be seen, the cheeky bookie is also offering betting on which judge will hit their buzzer first. Mr Nasty Simon Cowell is the 8/11 favourite to bash the buzzer first followed by Piers Morgan at 5/2 and the lovely Amanda Holden at 3/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said “Amanda has promised us this will be the funniest year yet so we’re looking forward to seeing what kind of acts make the cut. Last year was extraordinary with the discovery of Susan Boyle and it just proves that good talent really is out there to be found!”

The winner of Britain’s Got Talent will walk away with £100,000 and get to perform in front of the Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance. (more…)