Britain's Got Talent: Piers bets on dog champ

Britain's Got Talent 2008 could be won by a dog, according to show judge Piers Morgan. Dancing pooch Gin and her 16-year-old owner Kate from Manchester wowed judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden with their spectacular act and were given three nods to get through to the semi-final. Simon said: "All my life I have searched for the new Lassie and I think I've found him. That dog has got more talent than Rin Tin Tin." Piers added: "I think we have to accept that the winner of Britain's Got Talent this year might not be human." The new series of the ITV talent show begins on Saturday night and sees the first of seven weeks of audition highlights - some jaw-dropping, some amazing and others just plain awful - from around the country. The first episode of the series is packed with entertaining acts, some who even manage to leave Simon open-mouthed. These includes mind-bending contortionist Lona Luvsandorj and sexy girl band Scala who play classical music on electrical string instruments. And then of course there are the singers. Operatic wannabe Andrew Johnston has the audience in tears with his angelic rendition of Pie Jesu. Donald Bell Gum's torturous attempt at Valerie also reduced the judges to tears - but for all the wrong reasons. Simon ranted: "You are the worst singer we've ever had on Britain's Got Talent. Utterly horrific. On behalf of Great Britain, it's a resounding 'never'. Britain's Got Talent kicks off on ITV1 on Saturday night at 7.45pm.