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Britain’s Got Talent viewers have branded this year’s launch episode ‘boring’ as they moaned the acts are all the ‘same thing over and over again’.
Despite gracing TV screens for almost 20 years, BGT still has average viewership numbers of between five and seven million.
But fans are now claiming it is officially ‘past its sell-by date’ as it returned for a new series on Saturday night.
The first episode of the series saw a woman throwing buckets of fire with her feet, a performing dog and a dance troupe all take to the stage.
However undeniable their talents, viewers were left very unimpressed as they claimed the acts were all too similar to previous years.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they wrote: ‘Same sh*** different year,’; ‘Same old thing as every year…just with a zillion people this time,’;
‘Not watched this in years yet it’s still the same old sh***, magicians, dog acts and dance groups,’;
‘Britain’s Got Talent reached its sell-by date long ago. I’m so bored of rubbish magic acts winning,’;
‘Used to enjoy BGT Kinda going off it as it’s just the same thing over and over again,’; ’47 mins into the show and I am not even impressed. What has this show become?’;
‘Here comes the same basic dance group it’s been done before BORING,’; ‘Finally a dog act on #BGT Who’da thunk it!,’;
‘I don’t know why I bothered tuning in, it’s as terrible as ever. Far too many people are too easily pleased .
‘Love dogs but Seen all this before,’; ‘2 Rubbish acts and we’re only 10 minutes into BGT 2026!’
Some even threatened to change the channel to the BBC’s Gladiators as they said: ‘It’s kinda boring and wanna turn over to Gladiators,’;
‘Already bored of #BGT now watching #Gladiators which is set in my city,’;
‘As someone who doesn’t watch #BGT i hope #Gladiators wins this ratings battle. Come on Ellie for the Scots.’
The 2026 judging panel once again features Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, as well as newcomer KSI.
Needless to say, veteran presenters Ant and Dec will be back to lend their unique brand of comedy to the show – and keep hopefuls both calm and entertained backstage as they make their bids to impress the judges.
As has always been the case, the show’s main prize is a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show.
The winner will also win a whopping £250,000 cash prize – an amount that has admittedly fluctuated since the show began in 2007.
Back then, the winner received £100,000 before the prize was increased to half a million in 2012.
This mega prize pot, however, wasn’t around for long and in 2013, producers settled on the current £250,000 prize.
In 2025, the second-ever magician to win the show, Harry Moulding, won the show and the all-important cash prize and chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show.
This would have undoubtedly been a real throwback for fans as it has been a decade since the show had its first winning magician, Richard Jones, in 2015, who also blew the competition out of the water with his impressive tricks.
The show’s return will also look slightly different this year after Bruno Tonioli stepped down from the judging panel at the end of 2025.
He will be replaced by musician and internet celebrity KSI, 32, who has previously been a guest judge on the show.
