Britain's Got Talent, ITV1, review: forget the dancing dogs, we're here for the catty judges

Maybe it's time for them to reconsider renaming the show Britain's Got Talons. The petty and dramatic behavior among the judges is way more interesting than the actual performances. It's not like anyone cares about the dull and unremarkable acts anyway. We should just sit back and enjoy the heated arguments and clashes between the highly paid panelists that can be broadcasted live on television.

When the 17th series of ITV1's Britain's Got Talent was about to begin, Simon Cowell and his team were probably thinking of ways to create excitement before the launch. A show that has been around for so long and has had so many instalments might not generate much buzz. Fortunately, gossip is still a reliable way to get people talking. Some people might assume that Cowell had planned it that way.

Lately, there has been a flamboyant and amusingly dramatic conflict arise between long-time Britain's Got Talent performer Amanda Holden (known for her audacious dresses and rigid facial expressions) and previous X Factor evaluator Sharon Osbourne (recognized for her fiery red hair and... well, also for her inflexible face). I know you may be uninterested, but please hear me out.

The reason behind this is because of the recent revival of Celebrity Big Brother by ITV, where Osbourne and her previous colleague, Louis Walsh, openly criticized a wide variety of celebrities. Osbourne stated that Cowell had failed to keep his promise, which resulted in her losing out on a profitable opportunity. She also expressed that the media mogul lacks loyalty when it comes to friendship and hasn't changed his fashion sense in the past thirty years. It's safe to say that she was correct, at least in terms of his wardrobe choices.

Holden has been present in the variety franchise since its beginning. This has helped restart her career, and because of this she was very supportive of Cowell. She compared people who were disrespecting him to the mean stepsisters from Cinderella. She told a newspaper that she did not like seeing people disrespecting Cowell on the show. He has given them many chances in life, a lot of money and a lifestyle that they wouldn't have without him. It's not a good look to be bitter and resentful. Just be grateful for what he's given you.

In just a few hours, Osbourne responded to Holden's comments with a harsh and critical letter. She called Holden an uninformed flatterer and listed her own accomplishments in the music industry to demonstrate that her achievements do not solely stem from Cowell. Osbourne proudly shared details about her financial prosperity, but then acknowledged that it is inappropriate to talk about money because it displays a lack of class and refinement.

The most enjoyable part were the sarcastic comments: "I don't have a job in radio or theater like you... My brand is recognized globally unlike you. Simon paid me generously, maybe more than what you're making now, but my dear, all that money went on a few designer handbags." Ouch. Can we get some ice for that burn?

With the inclusion of the David Walliams controversy, the popular TV show BGT has shifted from being just a platform for discovering new talents to a drama-filled show with backstage scandals. David had to leave the judging panel after his remarks about the contestants were leaked, which caused widespread division among the fans. As a next step, he even sued the production team for violating his privacy.

This year's opening event was made more interesting with all these additional elements. As expected, it instantly put the judges in the spotlight. The first performance by Rask AI made use of advanced technology known as deepfake, which made the faces of the judges appear on characters from the movie The Greatest Showman. Cowell, Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli thought it was extremely funny, but the rest of us didn't find it as amusing.

Luckily, things started to improve. The buzzer of gold, which sends promising contestants directly to the semi-finals, was pressed not once, but twice. One was for Sydnie Christmas, a singer similar to Adele who performed a hair-raising version of the song "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie. The other was for Ssaulabi, a taekwondo group from South Korea who put on a jaw-dropping display of martial arts. At first, it seemed like the series had reached its peak too early.

During the event, there were also a variety of unique acts performing. It was quite an unusual display of talent. You wouldn't expect to see a clownfish doing stand-up comedy, a former educator utilizing a teapot as a musical instrument, four canines synchronized dancing, and a lady belching out an Abba classic. It seemed like it was all part of a bizarre and surreal experience fueled by cheese. Although it was very entertaining, it didn't manage to overshadow the argument between the judges. We should anticipate that ITV is already conceptualizing an interesting behind-the-scenes documentary.