With perfect timing, Eurovision ends and the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent begin. Every day this coming working week, the varied acts will go before a public vote for a place in the final. It’s one of the most enjoyable and manipulative TV talent shows for the betting community. Having just returned from Vienna, I’m a little behind what’s going on. Our hardy band of regular commenters are no doubt on the ball, though – do keep the conversation going throughout the week.
Calum is going to be hard to beat
I heard that they were altering the format to the live shows by randomly drawing the performance order. This was a few months ago and haven’t heard anything about it recently. Apparently the choir are on tomorrow which makes me think they’ll win the most important semi and get a push in next weekends final. With no week gap before the final whoever performs thursday and Friday are hampered big time
Hi stoney, are you referring to the Welsh choir (trying to catch up)? What makes you think they could win? Their audition couldn’t manage to get 1 million YT hits for one month while many more acts have 10+ million in shorter time.
They tick the following boxes. Big regional vote backing, likely to clean up with the grey vote. Type of act that’s never won. Would be suitable for the royal variety.
If they get pimp spots in semi and final they win.
I am on COR to win, and think they win.
Only thing I disagree with here, “Big Regional Vote Backing” I’ve been stung a few times assuming the welsh vote as powerful as scottish vote 🙁 It isnt, its not big 🙁
That said
Semi Final 1, and simon name dropping them in auditions as winner, which again was highlighted in this weekends recap, also fact they had the same slot as Collabro did in the audition episode of week 1. Is all enough for me.
To touch on the Youtube hits, the youtube clip BGT put up was only 3 minutes long i think and mainly just them singing, no introduction, no judges comments. It only shows half the story. I downloaded Episode 1 last week and watched it again. Its totally different to that youtube clip when watch it in full, hopefully that explains the youtube hits. But I agree this was a worry.
The welsh regional is not as strong as the scottish but it is still strong. Only boys aloud came 3rd after winning there semi the year ashley and pudsey won. Similar act and let’s be honest the winner that year was only gonna be the heavily pimped jonathon and charlotte if it wasn’t ashley and pudsey so the welsh choir did very well.
Just playing devil’s advocate here: isn’t that fact they got only stripped 3 minutes clip a worry also? Is that how they treat a favored act?
I guess there treatment in tonight’s show is the key. But the fact there in the opening show has caused them to become favourites. They look most likely to win. And are around 1/4 to win tonight’s semi
Boki, yes i dont normally like it. But alot of decent acts have had their Youtube clip shortened significantly.
So not too worried given they have been given Semi Final first slot.
I’ve had a punt on Henry Gallagher qualifying from tonight’s semi-final. Depends on the running order and comments really(as ever of course). If these are favourable he has every chance. The singer with the sob story has served her purpose so I cant see her getting anything other than damned with feint praise. Hoping that the dad dance act is the one the producers want in the final and tonight’s dance act is passed over.
Im on entity allstars to qualify tonight. For a few reasons. 1 they are shit hot. Best dance act since diversity. 2 there cute with lots of young cute kids. 3 Simon said he invited them personally. And they are aleshas golden buzzer. So they have got 2 automatic votes for them in the vote off. Old men dancing are not in the same league talentwise.
Oh well that one has fallen by the wayside
On Fridays Good Morning Britain interview, Simon cowell said he’d like this years winner to be one we haven’t seen before and he thinks the act will be one that no one had focused much on.
From that, its clear we won’t see another singing act win, or a dance troupe, or a dog act and I can’t see the magician winning this year or the impressionist. So I’m saying either UDI or whatever they are called (the light show act) or billy and Emily, who, were shown in show 1 and had the full 7/8 minute clip shown. Post audition, they also had the classic ‘cut to judges reactions discussing how brilliant they were and how it was something original they hadn’t seen before ‘ right before the ad break. This was the same with collabro last year, they had their gull auditition aired, were in the first show, at roughly the same time (halfway through) with a clip showing judges reactions post audition and right before an ad break.
I maybe wrong, but I’m at a loss as to who else they want as their winner
Ok, looks like I’m wrong lol
Surely at the moment though the producers are still focusing on getting a decently diverse final together aren’t they? Will try and manipulate the final once they’ve seen voting figures etc.
That’s me gone too.
Everything apart from the slot position screams winner. Maybe they are mixing it up a bit this year.
I’m happy enough having taken the choir at 6s earlier
What a strange show tonight. There definitely doing things different this year. Everyone bar the choir have been either thrown under the bus or had lukewarm praise. Performance order that has always been so reliable hasn’t given us any clues to who they are pushing to get into the final
My money is on the dog tonight, even got few euros to win the semi @105/1 lol.
The dog may qualify but ill eat my hat if the choir don’t win
Good call stoney, now make sure they avoid 2nd place 🙂
Ha ha i made more on entity going through than i stand to win on them if they win the whole thing so all is good 🙂
Im away for the final so i haven’t gone in as big as i normally would
I know Becky O’ Brien so I kind of need to have a punt on her!
Get the fuck in. Id wrote that bet off. A fantastic night for me
Haha! Well done mate. They deserved to go through from the death slot. Was a strange show. TPTB seemed only to care about pimping the choir. Didnt seem to care who finished second.
I’m pretty sure there the first act in bgt history to go through from the death slot. Just glad there wasn’t a cash out option!
Not quite – Diversity managed it in series three.
Well called Stoney! it went around the houses to come in, but it did! Just shows. I was thinking of you when they got the slot. That the warning sign, go handy, that show was all over the shop tonight. They must have been third in the voting or Simon would probably have gone to deadlock /
So Simons mate wrote song the choir singing…. Any stroke for a few publishing pennies…
Cor Glanaethwy are to sing Hallelujah in the final, possibly the most covered song in reality tv, but as shown X Factor’s Ben it still has it’s effectiveness. I can’t see them being beaten by a light show or individual singer.
Where did this information come from? Can we rely on this 100%? If so, then I think they will easily win sunday’s final
https://twitter.com/BGT/status/602957231034859520
There’s a clip of them rehearsing shown on BGMT so we know it’s the Leonard Cohen Hallelujah.
http://www.itv.com/britainsgottalent/bgmt/bgmt-see-what-the-judges-had-to-say-after-the-show
What do we think of tonight’s SF?
Nice and easy. The dog act wins followed through by revelation avenue
Financially I’m only on the dog act to win tonight’s heat
I think it might finish the other way round. Revelation ahead of the dog act. The dog act is so similar to Ashley & Pudsey I cant see it getting the full on pimp treatment. Might just do them both to qualify.
That was 5 years ago. The dog act is needed for the final. Much more than revelation. In fact i wouldn’t be surprised to see them nobbled tonight. Does the final need revelation avenue and the welsh choir in it together?
3 years ago
I’m on Revelation although I understand the concerns re another choir. Singing acts have a remarkable qualifying record and I feel will he hard to nobble them tonight.
I really liked last nights dog act and it finished 5th in the vote. I watched the rehearsal clip of tonights dog act and it got a few awws from the audience but it bored me to be honest.
I’m hoping that Revelation are considered different enough to last night’s choir to get them through. The dad dancing act might not get such favourable treatment now that there’s already a dance act in the final. I cant see any of the others standing any chance.
Simon tried his best to pimp last night’s dog act. Positive comments. World record representative, and talk of the american dog coming over for the final. I was actually very surprised it didn’t make the top 3. Simon loves dogs acts. And thus type of act has a good record in the heats. Ashley and pudsey were the best of all we’ve had on the show but i seem to remember a much less impressive act winning there heat. Tina and chandli i think the act was called
I’m going for Revelation too. The dog acts in the past have been dancing dogs which made for quiet a dynamic show, Matisse’s story seemed a bit slow. I think there’ll likely beat the Dad dancing in the vote off. (Unless Revelation are out first in which case I’d jump on Matisse as semi winner.)
Damn ive been shafted by slot position again. Although i got away with it yesterday don’t think I’ll be so lucky tonight. Revelation avenue sound like there getting an early slot too
Everything you touch turns to gold lol.
2 x slot 2 positions. Unheard of. Is slot 2 the new pimp slot? It would take a brave man to back against the welsh choir in my form at the moment lol
I think last night’s dog act could get the wildcard. They’re still going on about it tonight. If I’m right, they certainly won’t want 2 dogs in the final.
If you’re TPTB and you want the choir to win, then a great way to dampen a dog act vote is to have another dog act in the show.
Natasha made the reverse point below about not putting through Revelation Avenue being a help to Cor Glanaethwy.
Oh no the dreaded full standing ovation. I wasn’t overly impressed but the public will no doubt be swayed by the judges on their feet
Haha! As a Revelation backer I was more than happy to see the standing ovation. In fact I was shouting at the screen for the judges to get on their feet. Not counting any chickens yet though. They seem to be giving everyone a relatively fair crack. Just the impressionist last night been thrown under the bus so far.
They haven’t pulled away in the betting yet. Could be a close one. Old men grooving can’t be ruled out
to me TPTB are handing this on a plate to the old men
I have covered accordingly. A full standing ovation and they win tonight’s heat
Closest semi final in history? Top 3 in the odds all odds against
Boooooom
Harsh. 3rd place 2 nights running for me. Will try not to get involved tomorrow night. Or might just follow stoney. 🙂
Don’t jinx me mate 😉
The new running order mix up is making it much more interesting for viewers yet trickier for punters. On the other hand, it gives us potentially more value in-play but there’s far less certainty as to what’s going to happen. Jules O’Dwyer and Matisse won the heat from second in the running order which is actually unheard of! Seems like the producers are less bothered about which acts are going to get through last night. For example, would they really have been bothered if Revelation Avenue had won the vote?
What concerns me this year is the dog act that won last nights heat. Will the public get behind Jules and Matisse like they did Ashley and Pudsey and let the choir take 3rd spot like they did with Only Boys Aloud that same year????
Personally, I found Jules and Matisse boring and no where near as good as Ashley and Pudsey but I think they are the choir’s biggest threat.
Maybe they didnt put Revelation Avenue through as they could have possibly taken votes away from the choir in the final?
Regarding tonights semi, I can’t call it but think it’s pretty safe to say Ella Shaw, UDI and IMD will be top 3
I have disagree with you. I don’t think it’s a given that any of those three will be Top 3 tonight. It seems a tough semi and one that’s more open to me.
WIth child dancers, dog dancers and dad dancers already in the final, I suspect IMD are going to get poor camera angles and faint praise comments tonight. The only act I’m looking forward to seeing tonight is Jamie Raven.
If his audition was anything to go by then Jamie Raven is a strong contender for top 3
The semi final running order has been all over the place which has made things more interesting, albeit more difficult to predict the outcome from a punters point of view.
Surely TPTB won’t do the same in the final on Sunday……..Or, will they?? lol
Will their plan A get the pimp slot? Do they even have a plan A this year?
Not for me it’s been no probs at all. Best policy is to go with your gut feeling before the running order comes into play.
Going by YouTube views and the results of the last few nights’ semi-final results I’d say Jamie Raven the magician is a sure thing tonight for qualifying, I even have a bit on him winning this semi-final. Most BGT acts this year have under 1 million YouTube views, he has almost 9.5 million.
When I say the last few nights’ results, the audience seem to be lacking enthusiasm for singers in the final this year, especially individual singers who are not classical singers (see Becky O’Brien and Alison Jiear, 6th and 8th places respectively). I’m surprised to see Ella Shaw on most betting platforms at evens odds, for me she is a real gamble considering the reception to individual non-classical female singers the last few nights. I know Ella has a sob story as well which may win her a few extra votes but I’m still not sure if this will be enough.
Personally I get bored of dance acts but the rest of the population seem to have an insatiable appetite for them therefore I think UTI or whatever they’re called will make the top three and probably get through on judge’s votes or deadlock if it comes to that (assuming they’re not against Jamie R of course). The Kingdom Tenors will probably make the top three as well but won’t stand a chance against UTI or Jamie.
I’d be interested to hear other people’s thoughts on singers in the semi-final this year and if you take YT views into account when betting. I don’t think YT views are everything but for me they’re quite an important barometer.
I think TPTB will be keen to get a magician in the final. His trick in the audition was totally lame but they bigged it up like it was the best thing since sliced bread. I can see them doing the same again tonight. They will want some variety in the final rather than just singers and dancers. If he gets in the top 3 I think they’ll put him through whoever he is up against. He’s only a shade odds against to qualify though so steering well clear tonight.
I remember last year BGT twitter did an ask hashtag a day with one of the acts from that semi i.e. #askCollabro The act they did the ask with qualified every time. They hadn’t been doing that this year until today they did a #AskKingdomTenors. I can see why TPTB might want them (They are a combination of Stereo Kicks and Collabro.) I don’t think they can win the semi but think they would be chosen over the dance trope or Ella Shaw in the final three.
1 of you lot have gotta get it right at some point so ill go with you and have backed jamie raven to qualify lol
Good luck all
UDI about to get the new pimp slot then. Glad I’m not on them at 1/4 to win this semi from that slot
Would love nothing more than to see them thrown under the bus tonight
No-ones getting the bus treatment though really. It’s as if some new non-manipulative powers that be are in charge. Dance acts in the final left, right and centre and still IMD got the standing ovation and great comments treatment. Whats going on?
I don’t see jamie going through after that.
Lacked flow and seemed too unrealistic at the end with the helicopter
Cant believe he won it. Absolutely gobsmacked. Stoney can do no wrong! Never deserved to get through let alone win.
3 in a row. Could be a perfect night if udi go out
I tried to put a large chunk of my weeks winnings on udi to win the final earlier today but i couldn’t get matched at 1.4 so i pulled it out. I guess I’m just having all the luck this week
Semi final*
The final looks even more nailed on for the welsh after udi scraped through tonight. Will have to try and find somewhere showing it in Greece
I have to be honest, despite my earlier analysis, during Jamie’s performance I was starting to regret backing him. He was quite shaky throughout, got Alesha’s name wrong and then his helicopter trick was (sort of) rumbled by Simon. I’m shocked but obviously very pleased he not only qualified but won the semi-final. A decent win for me.
I’ve learnt a bit of a lesson though, this is a live show and things can and do go wrong. Acts who were previously seamless can crumble under the pressure.
I think it’s very telling though, the general public’s forgiveness of all of the aforementioned flaws in Jamie’s performance and despite him being well below par tonight, he was STILL voted over the virtually flawless singing and dancing acts. This makes me think the public do have an appetite this year for something different than the usual perfectly polished singers and dance troupes and this is something to really bear in mind over the next few nights…
I’m definitely not getting involved again unless there’s some obvious value in the markets. The producers seem to have turned down the manipulation and I am utterly hopeless at reading the public. Would never have had the magician winning the semi particularly after a shaky performance.
Let’s hope this doesn’t extend to X Factor!
I’m all done now. This has been my most successful semi final stage ever and ive only had to do the 3 nights. I’m on holiday from tomorrow so hopefully ill have the icing on the cake with the choir taking the prize on Sunday night.
Had a small flutter on the Welsh choir on Sunday night at 6/1 as they did a great audition and were enthralling to watch. Dog act was a bit boring in semi final, UDI I loved initially and like Light Balance thought they would do well but not sure they create the same emotional connection that Attraction brought.
The only surviving threat is the magician who did a great audition but messed up a bit last night. Can anyone turn it round in the final or is it the choir who will hit the high notes and claim victory? Thoughts anyone?
Finally someone gets well and truly thrown under the bus. Is the old BGT back?
Ok all check in my greece hotel and wifi is all sorted so ill be watching the final on Sunday cheering on the welsh. Looks pretty much nailed on to me now. Tptb will give them the required help on Sunday no doubt