MORE than half of the top acts on the next series of Britain’s Got Talent aren’t from Britain.

I can reveal that, of the nine golden buzzer performers who were sent through to the semi-finals during auditions, only four are homegrown.

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Britain’s Got Talent hosts Ant and DecCredit: ITV
The realisation will come as a surprise to viewers of the ITV1 show when it returns this spring for its 17th series.

A TV insider said: “People know the show often features foreign acts – some of them are utterly brilliant and, in many cases, go on to win the contest.

“But it’s a surprise to think that the cream of the crop who are sent through on golden buzzers are often from other countries.”

The golden buzzers are special acts who go straight through to the live semi-finals where they have a chance of going on to win the top prize of £250,000 and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

They are chosen either by hosts Ant and Dec or one of the judging panel made up of Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and Bruno Tonioli.

Usually that accounts for just five acts going straight through to the semis, but this year every judge selected two acts.

It’s not the first time there’s been a big presence from foreign acts on the show.

In 2022 one in four of the performers on the show were already known or came from shows from other countries.

Out of 60 acts, 15 of them had already appeared on one of the Got Talent shows around the globe, or were already professionals.

Meanwhile, last year’s winner was Viggo Venn, a Norwegian comedian whose entire act revolved around dancing in circles wearing a high vis vest, and in 2013 a Hungarian shadow theatre group triumphed on the seventh series.

And on the basis of the golden buzzer acts, there’s a good chance that Britain’s Got Talent won’t be won by someone from Britain yet again.

Britain’s Got Talent’s biggest Golden Buzzer moments from Greatest Showman ‘fix’ to the act that made Alesha cry

Stars Josh around

HERE’s the bloke that celebs must make the most popular man in the room – and judging by this first image, they will have their work cut out.

The bespectacled “Mr Ordinary” is the star of new E4 series The Underdog: Josh Must Win – he just doesn’t know it.

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From left to right: Pete Wicks, Amber Rose Gill, contestant Josh, Vicky Pattison and Nick Grimshaw all star in The Underdog: Josh Must Win
Nick Grimshaw, Vicky Pattison, Pete Wicks and Amber Rose Gill must champion Josh to help him beat his confident and gorgeous co-stars.

All the players, including Josh, have been tricked into thinking they are vying to be most popular on a telly series named The Favourite.

Little do they know it’s a fake show within a show – and celebs are hiding next door.

The only rule is that, no matter what, Josh Must Win without the truth about the double format emerging.

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick said of hosting the eight-part series: “I’m so excited.

“Last year we spent time locked away working on a brand new experimental reality show tasked with just one simple mission – Josh Must Win.

“With the experience of these three reality show legends and my sneaky double-edged presenting role, can we make it happen?

“With no script and no plan, this is like no show I’ve ever done.

“We had so much fun.

“Hopefully you will love it too.”

I revealed last month how the show combines elements of BBC hit The Traitors and ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother.

An insider said: “The Traitors has shown how something a little more intellectual, offering a twist on the standard reality genre, can really fly.

“Bosses hope Josh Must Win will similarly shake things up and capture viewers’ imagination.”

Josh Must Win is on E4 later this month.

CASUALTY veteran Derek Thomson is taking on the role of a retired copper Robin Graham as he joins the cast of BBC drama Blue Lights.

The actor, who played Charlie Fairhead in the hospital drama for 37 years, looks serious in the first picture of him in the new job.

Derek Thomson is taking on the role of a retired copper as he joins the cast of BBC drama Blue LightsCredit: BBC
Derek will be seen for the first time in the second episode of the police show, where he takes on the role of the ex-policeman.

In the show Robin’s life will be turned upside down when trainee solicitor Jen Robinson, played by Hannah McClean, starts looking into an old case that has dangerous implications for Robin.

Derek said: “I loved the first series of Blue Lights and thought, as did the majority of my friends and colleagues, that it was the best new TV series of last year.

“I was thrilled and excited when I got the invitation to take part in series two.

“I was born in Belfast and was equally excited to travel over to work on the show and pleased to report, having read the scripts, that I’m sure the fans will love the second series every bit as much as the first.”

Blue Lights is returning to BBC One this spring.

THREE months after having her first baby, Nicola Thorp is back.

The presenter returned to Talk TV today alongside Jeremy Kyle and told me: “I’m so excited. I’ve been watching the show doing morning feeds and am so grateful to Rosie Wright who has been wonderful covering me.”

Kath: The future is Rosie

KATHERINE RYAN might have lost to Judi Love on the first episode of their new panel show Out Of Order.

But that hasn’t stopped the Canadian comedian from thinking that she is the best at picking a winner in the telly world.

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Katherine Ryan and Rosie Jones have a new panel show Out Of OrderCredit: Rex
Katherine went on to reveal that she talent-spotted show host Rosie Jones.

The TV show team captain jokes on tonight’s episode, which goes out at 9pm on Comedy Central: “I’m a pretty good judge of character.

“I remember when I first met Rosie, and she was a production assistant for a show I was on.

“I thought, ‘She’s going to be a star,’ because that behaviour is only tolerated in front of the camera.”

Hunted return revs up

REALITY thriller Hunted will return to Channel 4 this spring and for the first time is kicking off in central London.

The contestants, or Fugitives, again dodge expert Hunters to try and win the £100,000 prize, and start their time on the run in Piccadilly.

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The chase is on in the new series of HuntedCredit: Channel 4
To beat rush-hour traffic, the Hunters’ ace trackers have Harley-Davidson motorbikes.

Ray Howard, who masterminds the hunt from HQ alongside chief Lisa Theaker and his fellow deputy Marc Canacur, said of chasing the Fugitives: “It’s all about speed, and sometimes we don’t catch them due to traffic.

“London is difficult to get across, that’s why we got the motorbikes.

“Because I’m in HQ, they wouldn’t let me ride one, which I’m sore about because the Hunters looked like they were in an action movie.”