BRITAIN’S Got Talent fans down south will have to put some petrol in their motors if they fancy going to see the final auditions.
Insiders on the hit ITV talent show tell me that bosses have pulled a massive U-turn on their plans to host the auditions at the London Palladium — and have moved them all up to Blackpool.
A source revealed that the change was made because the atmosphere in the seaside town was so electric.
My mole said: “BGT is a show that hangs on the audience and how they react — and basically the crowd in Blackpool are absolutely brilliant.
“The Palladium is such an iconic venue but if you compare the shows in Blackpool to the ones they have filmed in London, the audience is way more up for it there.
“The auditions resume in the new year and they’ll all be filmed up in Blackpool.
“Boss Simon Cowell has given the green light to the move and just wants the show to be the best it can be.
“Fellow judge Amanda Holden might not be too impressed though, given she works in London five days a week and the trek to Blackpool is long.
“Fans will be emailed about the changes soon and BGT bosses think it is for the best.”
I’ve sat in the audience of the auditions many times and it is always one of the most fun shows to be a part of — so for me, if moving to Blackpool adds to the experience, I’m all for it.
During the first round of auditions filmed last month, one of the panel pressed the Golden Buzzer for a local Blackpool lad.
In that week, it was pushed twice more, with Amanda — who is joined on the panel by Alesha Dixon and YouTuber KSI — telling fans: “I have just pressed my Golden Buzzer and it is something that you would not expect me to press it for.”
Get me a “kiss me quick” sign and a pint of lager on the pier and I’m there.
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Cheers to funky anthem
IT’S the song guaranteed to get me stomping on the dance floor at a party. But now it’s got me feeling old, as Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk marks its tenth birthday.
It was No1 in 19 countries, spending seven weeks at the top in the UK, and won a Brit Award and two Grammys.
Mark said: “Creating it in a jam with Bruno, and then spending seven months refining every detail, was a true labour of love.
“Now, watching how the song has taken on a life of its own, I’m genuinely moved by the joy it seems to bring to people.”
I’ll be turning it up loud tomorrow and dancing around the office in homage.
Raye’s on nice P.A.Y.E
RAYE’S year gets better and better.
The Escapism singer started 2024 by winning six Brit Awards – and will end it as a multi-millionaire.
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She made £3.1million from her firms Hello Rat and Raisins Touring over the last financial year, according to documents filed at Companies House this week.
After costs, she generated a £1.7million profit to boost her coffers to £2.2million.
She earned almost five times more than in the 2022-23 financial year.
It proves how hugely lucrative her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, released in early 2023, has been.
And the good news keeps on coming for Raye, who was nominated for two Grammys last night
She will be one of the star performers at tomorrow night’s MTV EMAs, airing live from Manchester’s Co-op Arena on MTV and Channel 5 from 9pm, where she is also expected to win big.
Raye has been nominated for Best Live, Best Artist and Best UK & Ireland Act.
Her pal Rita Ora, who she previously supported on tour before hitting the big time, will host the ceremony.
So I’m sure there will be a good knees-up afterwards.
There’s certainly plenty to celebrate.
That’s a bummer, Junior
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JUNIOR ANDRE will have woken up with more than a sore head after attending the launch of an ice rink in the capital.
The singer, who is the son of Katie Price and Peter Andre, ended up on his bum a number of times – much to the amusement of girlfriend Jasmine Orr.
Glide ice rink at Battersea Power Station in South London is open until January, so Junior has plenty of time to get some practice in.
Bow for it, Jen
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JENNIFER LOPEZ had her look all wrapped up for the final stage of her whistle stop tour of London to promote her film Unstoppable.
The singer and actress wore a black dress with a bow tied at the front on her last day before flying back to Los Angeles last night.
Jen has certainly upped the fashion stakes since she arrived in the UK, wearing a comedy Pat Butcher style fur coat during a night out before donning a Mary Poppins-style prim and proper white coat and black hat for another event.
She’ll have needed to book extra luggage on her flight home for sure.
Those bags definitely weigh over 20kgs.
Tom: Wedding had me tied in knots
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I REVEALED earlier this year that Tom Grennan had got hitched to his girlfriend Danniella Carraturo in a posh ceremony in Majorca.
Now the It Can’t Be Christmas singer has opened up about the day, and said he was a bag of emotions.
“You should have seen me,” he said.
“I thought I was going to be so cool, chilled.
“I thought it’d be emotional but didn’t think it’d be like how I was.
“Like, I was a wreck.
“I cried from my soul.”
Tom, pictured above with Danniella, told Fleur East on Hits Radio: “It was the most amazing experience of my life.
“You’re not beating what me and my missus have.
“I love her and she’s so supportive of what I want to do, and I’m so supportive of her.
“She keeps the boat afloat.”
I think this is a marriage for keeps.
