Since launching in 2007, Britain’s Got Talent has gone through some ups and downs that, truthfully, are to be expected. When a TV program achieves what feels like flash-in-the-pan success, it can be difficult to continue on at that same level. That’s particularly the case with talent shows like BGT, whose livelihoods hinge on the whether or not a contestant wins over the audience (both during and after their appearance on the program).
For BGT, they’re obviously hoping to recapture the magic of previous series by looking forward to 2015. They recently put out a call for applications and auditions through ITV. Would-be superstars have the chance to try out for a spot on the show through the middle of December. Given that this year’s series began in April, it’s likely that the next one will launch at a similar time in 2015.
What’s been frustrating for fans of the show and the team behind it is the following: Both the popularity of the program and its winners have been on the decline over the past few years. In 2012, for example, the planned live, touring version of BGT was axed because of lower-than-expected ticket sales, as reported by The Sun.
Additionally, the winners have had a difficult time pushing their debut albums to listeners. No one has had quite the success of Susan Boyle (a runner-up in Series 3) and Paul Potts (the Series 1 winner), though that’s not to say the others have done terribly. Considering the fact that album sales are not quite what they used to be, it’s commendable that some finalists and contestants have moved at least 100,000 copies of their first albums.
Those same stronger years—the Potts-to-Boyle era, if you will—also led to increased revenue for BGT in other outlets. Namely, they branched out to and found success in merchandising. Among the products released, there were a few that are especially enjoyable as they double-down as games and not just, say, a buzzer from the judge’s panel (yes, that’s a real piece of merch). As you can see on Betfair, the online gaming platform teamed up with BGT to create a gaming experience that utilises music, sound effects, and images from the show to create a unique experience for players. It’s worth noting that similar talent shows (The X Factor) and generic game shows (Deal or No Deal) have also found a new life on this platform.
Similarly, the BGT empire was expanded to board games back in 2009 with an electronic board game. The only downside in that case, though, is that the reviews don’t seem too hot for the game. According to Amazon, players either love or hate it—perhaps an update or new version is in order, then, to coincide with the upcoming series.
All this being said, could the next series of BGT be what the show needs to regain the attention of its once huge audience? We’ll have to wait and see if those taking on the call of the show’s producers have what it takes to be the next Susan Boyle, though no one’s holding his or her breath.
