Britain's Got More Talent host Stephen Mulhern is pleased as punch. After 11 series, BGMT has won an award - the TV Times award for Best Digital Show, no less. Here, Stephen talks about the show's big win and what this year's 12th series of BGMT has in store...
Stephen Mulhern on how TV Times became the star of BGT's sister show this year… and upset the judges!
Stephen Mulhern is in a jubilant mood. Why? Well, because Britain's Got More Talent – the ITV2 spin-off he's been hosting for the past 11 years – recently won the TV Times award for best digital show.
"I can't thank the fans enough," enthuses Stephen, 41. "The team on BGMT work so hard every series, so it’s nice for them to be rewarded."
Stephen wants to tell the world about BGMT's major victory and, as far as he's concerned, there’s only one way to do it. With each new series, comes a brand-new BGMT song, letting viewers know the show is back with a bang – and this year it's all about BGMT's big win.
With Stephen and the BGMT crew midway through filming the all-new ditty, TV Times popped along to a boxing gym in Battersea, South West London, to catch him in action and to find out what this series has in store…
Congratulations on winning the TV Times award for best digital show. How do you feel?
"We've spent 11 years banging on about how we've never won an award and then we get one of the best! So we're really pleased. We've had a lot of fun with the judges with it, and with hosts Ant & Dec, too. The award currently takes pride of place in our studio then after the live shows I'll take it home."
Are BGT judges Simon Cowell and David Walliams a bit jealous of your award?
"Of course they are! They're seething, I'd imagine. We do play on it a lot and I do tease them with it. Actually, we put the award in the judges' room and it's funny how it moved from Simon's station to David's station to Amanda's, then onto Alesha's. I think it's just so it felt like they'd got a tiny part of it. Of course, David's constantly reminding everyone he's the best TV judge!"
David and Simon congratulate each other on their awards... sort of
Do you always enjoy filming the Britain's Got More Talent song?
"The hardest part of filming BGMT is the opening song because it's the thing everyone talks about – last year's one went viral! This morning, we were driving a bus, with huge banners on it, around Croydon and the public reaction was amazing. One man came up and said: 'Congratulations on your award'. So the word is spreading…"
Is it a song or a rap this time?
"It's a mixture of a song and a rap. [Stephen starts to sing]: 'We've won/yes I know/TV Times/best digital show/I know it sounds crazy/but I’ve checked/ and yes it is correct.' So TV Times is named and EVERYTHING! All the judges feature in the song and Simon has a very big part…"
Stephen takes to the top deck to spread the word about BGMT's award win
Why are we at a boxing gym?
"This part is about us knocking the other competition out of the park. The lyrics are [Stephen sings again]: 'It's nothing new you haven't seen/no Big Little Lies/or The Queen/no clever plots that twist and turn/Games of Thrones dragons feel the burn…' So even The Queen's here, too! I still can't believe, with all these other shows that were nominated, that we won."
So, lots to live up to then… what makes BGMT bigger and better this year?
"Every year we do this show, we never do the same thing and we never will. When viewers switch over from ITV, they'll never see the same act. On BGMT, we tend to go for the funnier acts and more eccentric characters. We don't really want anyone that's properly talented! Mmm… what I mean is, it's not important to be talented on BGMT. Yes, that sounds better."
How will the judges be getting involved on BGMT this year?
"We've got a new game for Amanda Holden called 'Lo and Beholden...' – every week she'll compete against a very well-known former Britain's Got Talent act. We've also brought back classic game Wonkey Donkey and the judges and Ant & Dec compete against each other on that. There aren't many 'sister' shows around now and I think part of the reason BGMT is still going 12 years down the line is because of the input that Ant & Dec and the judges give."
Stephen likes to play games with judge Amanda Holden on Britain's Got More Talent
Finally, have you been given a Golden Buzzer this year?
"No, and I’m gutted. Simon told me: 'You can have a bronze buzzer' and I said: 'What do I get if I press that?' He said: 'Well, whoever you press the bronze buzzer for, can appear on ITV2'. I’m certain they won't trust me with a Golden Buzzer because they know what sort of act I'll put through!"
To whet your appetite before Saturday, watch the video for BGMT's brand new song below...
https://youtu.be/U3Fu39utLVE
Britain’s Got More Talent starts on Saturday April 14 at 9.25pm on ITV2.
