Britain's Got Talent (series 2)

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Britain's Got Talent
Series 2
Broadcast from 12 April 2008– 31 May 2008
Judges Simon Cowell
Amanda Holden
Piers Morgan
Presenter(s) Britain's Got Talent:
Ant & Dec
Britain's Got More Talent:
Stephen Mulhern
Broadcaster ITV
Winner:
George Sampson
George Sampson Newcastle.jpg
Origin Warrington
Song "Singin' in the Rain by Mint Royale"
Genre(s) Street dance
Runner-up
Signature
Chronology
◄ 2008 ►

The second series of Britain's Got Talent was broadcast from 12 April 2008 and ended on 31 May 2008. Notable differences from the first series the included the fact that auditions were Scotland and that there were 40 acts in the live semi-finals, compared to 24 the previous year. This series also ran for longer, this time airing seven weeks instead of one. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan returned as judges. Ant & Dec returned as hosts with Stephen Mulhern coming back to present Britain's Got More Talent on ITV2. Auditions took place in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Blackpool. It was the first time that auditions were held in Glasgow and Blackpool.

The series was won by street dancer George Sampson, with dance duo Signature coming in second and singer Andrew Johnston in third.

Contents

[edit] Semi-finalists

On 24 May 2008, the judges announced the 40 acts that have made it through to the live semi-finals.[1] A total of 10 acts made the grand final on 31 May 2008.

The winner was George Sampson, who was invited to perform an encore of his 'Singin' in the Rain' routine.

Key      Winner      Runner-up      Third place      Finalist      Semi-finalist (lost judges' vote)
Name / Name of act Age(s) Genre Act From Semi Position Reached
Andrew Johnston 13 Singing Boy soprano Carlisle 2 3rd Place
Andrew Muir 24 Singing Pop Fauldhouse, West Lothian 4 Finalist
Anya Sparks 42 Dancing Solo Dance London 5 Semi-finalist
Bang On 34/27 Music Percussionists Hounslow 2 Semi-finalist
Boogie Babes 8-12 Dancing 19-strong troupe Appleby 4 Semi-finalist
Boogie Wonderland 12-21 Dancing 16-strong troupe Liverpool 1 Semi-finalist
Caburlesque Dancing Cabaret/Burlesque London 5 Semi-finalist
Charlie Green 10 Singing Swing music Worcestershire 3 Semi-finalist
Charlie Wernham 13 Comedy Stand-up comedy Essex 4 Semi-finalist
Cheeky Monkeys 8/9 Dancing Junior Couples Dance Burnley 2 Finalist
Craig Harper 35 Singing / Comedy Pop / Impressionist Hull 5 Semi-finalist
Dean Wilson 18 Singing Musical Theatre Middlesbrough 1 Semi-finalist
Deans Of Magic 46/38 Magic Erotic magic Daventry 3 Semi-finalist
Diva Las Vegas Dancing 7-strong cabaret act Runcorn 5 Semi-finalist
Escala (originally Scala.) 23-26 Music String quartet London 5 Finalist
Faryl Smith 12 Singing Classical Kettering 4 Finalist
Flava 17-28 Dancing Hip-hop Dance Cornwall 2 Semi-finalist
George Sampson 14 Dancing Breakdancing Warrington 3 Winner[2]
Harlequin Stage School 8-13 Dancing 22-strong troupe Worcester 4 Semi-finalist
Hoop La La 22/23/24 Dancing Hula hoops Inverness 3 Semi-finalist
Iona Luvsandorj (Mostly credited as just Iona) 27 Contortionist Solo Contortionist London 2 Semi-finalist
Irresistible 23/21/23 Singing / Dancing Pop Tyne & Wear 3 Semi-finalist
James Stone 52 Singing Pop Rhyl 4 Semi-finalist
Jeremy Lynch 20 Acrobatics Football skills Essex 4 Semi-finalist
Kate And Gin 16/6 Dancing/Animals Musical canine freestyle Norbury, Cheshire 1 Finalist
Kay And Harvey 56/71 Singing Opera Bristol 2 Semi-finalist
Madonna Decena 32 Singing Pop Manchester 5 Semi-finalist
Mandy Ellen Dancers 10-24 Dancing 39-strong troupe Maidstone 2 Semi-finalist
Mary Halford March 6-9 Dancing 24-strong troupe Liverpool 3 Semi-finalist
Michael Machell 57 Music Electric Keyboard Player Wallasey 1 Semi-finalist
Nemesis 18-22 Dancing 6-strong troupe Milton Keynes 5 Finalist
Per Diem 24/23 Music Guitar and voice Liverpool 5 Semi-finalist
Phil Blackmore 34 Juggling Balancing Act Kingston-upon-Thames 1 Semi-finalist
Sauris Nandi 64 Magic Deception & Illusion 2 Semi-finalist
Signature 29/34 Dancing Michael Jackson / Bhangra London 1 2nd Place
Sophie Mei 20 Dancing Belly-dancing Sheffield 1 Semi-finalist
Strike 22/19 Dancing Martial arts demo Sheffield 3 Finalist
Tracy Lee Collins 44 Singing Drag act Leicester 1 Semi-finalist
Urban Gypsies 35-50 Dancing 7-strong belly-dancing troupe Blackpool 3 Semi-finalist
Vizage 34/30 Magic/Singing Quick change artists and singers Hull 4 Semi-finalist

[edit] Semi-final summary

The "Order" columns lists the order of appearance each act made for every episode.

Key X Buzzed out ✔ Judges' choice   Won the public vote   Won the judges' vote

[edit] Semi-final 1

Order Finished Artist Act Buzzes and judges' choices
Cowell Holden Morgan
1 6th Boogie Wonderland 16-strong dance group
—
—
—
2 2nd (won judges' vote) Kate and Gin Musical canine freestyle ✔ ✔
3 8th Michael Machell Keyboardist X
—
—
4 3rd (lost judges' vote) Dean Wilson Musical theatre singer
—
—
 ✔
5 5th Sophie Mei Belly-dancing
—
—
—
6 4th Tracey Lee Collins Singer X
—
—
7 7th Phil Blackmore[note 1] Balancing/alternative juggling
—
 X X
8 1st (won public vote) Signature Michael Jackson/Bhangra dance act

[edit] Semi-final 2

Order Finished Artist Act Buzzes and judges' choices
Cowell Holden Morgan
1 5th Mandy Ellen Dancers 39-strong dance group
—
—
—
2 4th Iona Contortionist
—
—
—
3 2nd (won judges' vote) Cheeky Monkeys Junior dance couples ✔ ✔
4 8th Kay and Harvey Opera and electronic keyboard X
—
—
5 7th Bang On! Urban percussionists X
—
 X
6 3rd (lost judges' vote) Flava Hip-hop dance group
—
—
 ✔
7 6th Sauris Nandi Deceptional and illusionary magic X
—
—
8 1st (won public vote) Andrew Johnston Boy soprano

[edit] Semi-final 3

Order Finished Artist Act Buzzes and judges' choices
Cowell Holden Morgan
1 4th Irresistible Pop group
—
—
—
2 2nd (won judges' vote) Strike Martial arts demo ✔ ✔
3 8th Mary Halford March 24-strong dance group X
—
 X
4 7th The Deans Of Magic 'Erotic' magic X X X
5 3rd (lost judges' vote) Charlie Green Singer ✔
—
—
6 6th Urban Gypsies 7-strong belly-dancing group
—
—
 X
7 5th Hoop La La Hula hoop entertainment
—
—
—
8 1st (won public vote) George Sampson Breakdancing

[edit] Semi-final 4

Order Finished Artist Act Buzzes and judges' choices
Cowell Holden Morgan
1 4th James Stone Pop singer
—
—
—
2 5th Charlie Wernham Stand-up comedian
—
—
—
3 8th Harlequin Stage School 22-strong dance group
—
—
—
4 2nd (won judges' vote) Andrew Muir Pop singer ✔ ✔ ✔
5 6th The Boogie Babes 19-strong dance group
—
—
—
6 7th Vizage[note 2] Quick-change act X X X
7 3rd (lost judges' vote) Jeremy Lynch Football player X
—
 X
8 1st (won public vote) Faryl Smith Classical singer

[edit] Semi-final 5

Order Finished Artist Act Buzzes and judges' choices
Cowell Holden Morgan
1 8th Caburlesque Cabaret/Burlesque
—
—
—
2 4th Madonna Decena Pop singer
—
—
—
3 5th Anya Sparks Dancer
—
—
—
4 3rd (lost judges' vote) Craig Harper Pop/impressionist
—
 ✔
—
5 7th Diva Las Vegas 7-strong cabaret act
—
—
 X
6 2nd (won judges' vote) Nemesis 5-strong troupe ✔ ✔
7 6th Per Diem Guitar and vocals X X
—
8 1st (won public vote) Escala Electric string quartet

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Simon Cowell did buzz Phil Blackmore's act, even though it was after the act finished.
  2. ^ Amanda Holden stated after the act that Simon Cowell pressed her buzzer.

[edit] Final

Key   Winner   Runner-Up   Third Place
Order[3] Finished Artist Act
1 6th Cheeky Monkeys Dance to "We Go Together" from Grease
2 10th Andrew Muir Performance of "Imagine"
3 7th Kate and Gin Canine freestyle to James Bond Theme
4 8th Nemesis Dance to "Pump It" by The Black Eyed Peas
5 9th Strike Martial arts routine to "I Like the Way (You Move)"
6 3rd Andrew Johnston Performance of Pie Jesu
7 1st George Sampson Breakdancing (Singin' in the Rain)
8 5th Faryl Smith Performance of Ave Maria
9 4th Escala Performance of Palladio
10 2nd Signature Billie Jean bhangra

[edit] Live show chart

Legend
Winner Runner-Up Third Place Final Ten
Won Semi Final Judge's Choice Top 3 (Eliminated) Eliminated Did Not Perform
Show Contestant Result
Semi 1 Semi 2 Semi 3 Semi 4 Semi 5 Finale
Final George Sampson Win Winner
Signature Win Second
Andrew Johnston Win Third
Escala Win Unknown
Faryl Smith Win
Cheeky Monkeys JC
Kate & Gin JC
Nemesis JC
Strike JC
Andrew Muir JC
Semi
Final 5		 Anya Sparks ELIM
Caburlesque ELIM
Craig Harper Top 3
Diva Las Vegas ELIM
Madonna Decena ELIM
Per Diem ELIM
Semi
Final 4		 Charlie Wernham ELIM
Harlequin Stage School ELIM
James Stone ELIM
Jeremy Lynch Top 3
The Boogie Babes ELIM
Vizage ELIM
Semi
Final 3		 Charlie Green Top 3
Hoop La La ELIM
Irresistible ELIM
Mary Halford March ELIM
The Deans Of Magic ELIM
Urban Gypsies ELIM
Semi
Final 2		 Bang On ELIM
Flava Top 3
Iona ELIM
Kay & Harvey ELIM
Mandy Ellen Dancers ELIM
Sauris Nandi ELIM
Semi
Final 1		 Boogie Wonderland ELIM
Dean Wilson Top 3
Michael Machell ELIM
Phil Blackmore ELIM
Sophie Mei ELIM
Tracey Lee Collins ELIM

[edit] Ratings

Show Date Overnight Rating Share Peak Official Rating Source
Auditions 1 12 April 8.8m 37.0% 9.8m 9.44m [4]
Auditions 2 19 April 10.3m 43.3% 10.6m 10.96m [5]
Auditions 3 26 April 9.4m 41.3% 9.8m 9.86m [6]
Auditions 4 3 May 8.5m 39.1% 8.8m 9.12m [7]
Auditions 5 10 May 7.5m 37.9% 8.5m 8.17m [8]
Auditions 6 17 May 8.6m 37.5% 9.6m 9.11m [9]
Auditions 7 24 May 7.7m 37.2% 8.2m 8.27m [10]
Semi Final 1 26 May 10.9m 42.0% 12.2m 11.33m [11]
Semi Final 2 27 May 8.8m 35.3% 9.6m 9.29m [12]
Semi Final 3 28 May 9.3m 35.9% 10.1m 10.03m [13]
Semi Final 4 29 May 9.7m 41.9% 10.5m 10.13m [14]
Semi Final 5 30 May 11.4m 50.0% 12.5m 11.86m [15]
Final Performances 31 May 11.0m 51.1% 14.0m 11.52m [16]
Final Results 13.1m 55.1% 14.4m 13.88m
Series Average 2008 9.6m 41.8% 10.6m 10.21m
—

The second series of Britain's Got Talent was a huge ratings success, officially averaging 10.2m for the entire series.[17]

The Final Results episode was the third most watched programme of 2008, officially averaging 13.88m. The moment when George Sampson was announced winner, in front of 14.4 million viewers, was the 4th most watched moment of 2008.

This series of Britain's Got Talent had the third highest series average out of any talent show this century.

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Andrew Johnston

In an article on 18 April 2008 by British newspaper the Daily Mail, the mother of young contestant Andrew Johnston admitted that their story had been "over-egged" and the truth in the reality is, they do not live in a stereotypical council estate - like he had claimed during a previous interview for the talent show. He pulled on even more heartstrings when he claimed he was bullied but in fact, the bullying he allegedly sustained was early on in his life, and it was not a recent and regular occurrence. The show's producers were accused of misleading the viewers and enhancing a "sob story".[18]

[edit] Michael Machell

The first live show attracted considerable complaint due to the treatment of keyboardist Michael Machell, whose appearance was greeted with open mockery and hostility by the crowd and judging panel, with claims that the show's producers encouraged the audience to boo and deride the performer from the beginning of his appearance. Michael was visibly upset immediately afterwards, and also later that evening in his appearance in Britain's Got More Talent on ITV2. In his first audition, he was buzzed by Simon who then pressed the buzzers of Amanda and Piers, in the semi-final he buzzed again but did not press any other buzzer.

[edit] Andrew Muir

Having made it to the final, Muir sang Imagine by John Lennon, and was heavily criticised after his performance for a bad choice of song. In both the main show, and the later ITV2 show, Muir stated that the choice of song had been made by producers, and that he had been given no choice but to accept. On both shows, the hosts were seen by viewers to swiftly change the subject or speak to other contestants rather than allow this point to be made further. 2009 Semi-finalists Natalie Okri and Good Evans were in a similar situation. In the 2011 series, semi-finalist Jessica Hobson burst in tears after stating that the producers chose the song she had sung and that she had no say in the matter.

[edit] Escala

"Scala" (now Escala) also attracted attention from the press - the four members of the band are professional musicians who played for McFly as part of a large orchestra on their UK tour in 2005. They are signed to an entertainment agency, and were invited to audition for Britain's Got Talent by Simon Cowell after they played the X Factor wrap party in late 2007. An ITV1 spokesman refused claims this was unfair, stating "Scala went through the same application and audition process as everyone else. Britain's Got Talent is open to any performer be it professional or amateur, with any talent."[19] Two of the four members of Escala were part of a similar five-piece classical group called Wild, who were signed to EMI and released an album with the label in 2005.[20] The quartet were then required to change their name from Scala to eScala. According to a report published in the Daily Mirror. "Scala were forced to change their name because it belongs to a female voice choir in Belgium. The girls changed to Escala after EMI threatened to sue, despite having used it for two years."[21]

[edit] Faryl Smith

The Sunday Mirror and Digital Spy both reported that Simon Cowell arranged for free singing lessons to be delivered by X Factor vocal coach Yvie Burnett to 12-year old vocalist Faryl Smith. Burnett previously coached 2007 Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts and 2006 The X Factor winner Leona Lewis.[22][23]

[edit] Voting

Britain's Got Talent bosses were accused of fixing the show by manipulating the viewers’ vote, by the fans. In all five semi-finals of series 2, the semi-finalist performing last won the public vote and made it through to the final. The same thing happened in the first series, with the last performer receiving the top acclaim, including in the final. Readers of the Daily Star say complaints have been flooding in, but bosses have denied all allegations. A spokeswoman for the hit TV show claimed that the pattern noticed by viewers was “nothing more than a coincidence”. She also added: "The judges have no say over the running order on the show."[24][25] This pattern also continued in the first three semi-finals of series 3, but was broken by saxophanist Julian Smith, who won the public vote in semi-final 4 as act number six out of eight.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Top 40 Acts
  2. ^ "Breakdancer wins TV talent contest". The Press Association. http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLv-DLR9hI1D8PZ60oapDmgOpAIQ. Retrieved 31 May 2008. 
  3. ^ http://watchwithmothers.net/2008/06/03/britains-got-talent-live-final/
  4. ^ Brook, Stephen (14 April 2008). "Britain's Got Talent back with 8.8m". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/14/tvratings.television. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  5. ^ Brook, Stephen (21 April 2008). "Ratings soar for Britain's Got Talent". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/21/tvratings.television1. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  6. ^ International formats bolster ITV weekend
  7. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (6 May 2008). "Talent shines but viewers head outdoors". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/06/tvratings.television2. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  8. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (12 May 2008). "Talent sizzles as heat hits ratings". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/12/tvratings.television2. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  9. ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (19 May 2008). "FA Cup final scores a ratings victory". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/19/tvratings.television2. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  10. ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (27 May 2008). "TV ratings: 7.1m UK viewers tune in to Eurovision". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/27/tvratings.television3. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  11. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (27 May 2008). "TV ratings: Britain's Got Talent dances off with honours". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/27/tvratings.television. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  12. ^ ITV1 delivers masterclass to The Apprentice
  13. ^ 2.8m get the Mary Whitehouse experience
  14. ^ Thursday peaktime blues for BBC1
  15. ^ Dowell, Ben (2 June 2008). "TV ratings: Britain's Got Talent semi-final shines for ITV". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/02/tvratings.television2. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  16. ^ Britain's Got Talent wins ratings war - Showbiz - News - Manchester Evening News
  17. ^ Reality TV hurts too much - WalesOnline
  18. ^ Is the Britain's Got Talent choirboy REALLY a bullied kid from a sink estate?
  19. ^ Scala Are Bunch Of Real Pros
  20. ^ Scala on Britain's Got Talent electrify Simon Cowell
  21. ^ Britain's Got Talent: row over Scala's name
  22. ^ Simon Cowell's secret singing lessons for Britain's Got Talent's Faryl Smith
  23. ^ Young 'Talent' star gets secret coaching
  24. ^ TV Talent Show Rigged, Say Fans
  25. ^ Britain's Got Talent embroiled in rigging scandal: Viewers accuse bosses of fixing show

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