Britain’s Got Talent legend Paul Potts has opened up about the latest series of the ITV show after he appeared on the programme nearly 20 years ago. The 53-year-old opera singer from Bristol shot to fame back in 2007 when he wowed judges with his performance of Nessun dorma, famously sung by Italian tenor Pavarotti. The former Carphone Warehouse manager was crowned the very first winner of BGT.
In an exclusive interview with Express on behalf of Sky Vegas, the performer opened up about his time on the ITV show. In total, 40 acts made it through to the semi-final stage, and only 10 can reach the final. Two acts can get into the final from each of the five semi-finals, either by winning the public vote or receiving the singular golden buzzer allowed in an episode to go straight in.
“I’ve done ‘Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions’ before so I’d be very happy to do All-Stars. There are quite a few acts that are appearing from other ‘Got Talent’ series, appearing in the British series, which might be blocking other people from taking part,” he remarked.
“I wouldn’t apply for any other ‘Got Talent’ in another part of the world, unless it was a specific one for people that had been on before.”
Speaking about his time on the show, he said, “I look back on Britain’s Got Talent with great fondness. It is where my life changed from working to do things I loved to do, to doing what I loved as my career. Being able to be myself and do what makes me – me – is almost not like working at all!”
He added, “I’d love to return to perform [on Britain’s Got Talent], especially next year, I’d love to perform a song from a celebratory album to recognise 20 years. Wow. That feels unreal. Twenty years. I feel old but honoured.”
Britain’s Got Talent airs tonight on ITV at 7pm