Key Points
- Britain's Got Talent premiere drew just 3 million viewers, down 1.5 million from last year.
- BBC Two's Winter Olympics peaked at 5.5 million, outperforming BGT.
- Sources warn advertisers may withdraw if ratings fall further; ITVX streaming figures aren't included.
Why They're In The News
SIMON Cowell is in crisis mode after Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent launch saw its lowest ratings ever.
Returning for it’s 19th(!) series, the show — which used to enjoy 10M viewers at its peak — saw only 3M tuning in, a drop of 1.5M on last year.
It was beaten in the ratings by BBC 2’s coverage of the Winter Olympics, which peaked at 5.5M viewers.
The overnight ratings are not inclusive of ITVX streaming.
A source told Pop Quest: “Simon will be devastated by these figures, they are terrible.
“While the show continues to do well online, it’s still not where the money is… and that’s what matters to a company like ITV.
“If people aren’t watching the show, advertisers and sponsors simply won’t be interested.
“Got Talent has been flogged to death. It’s boring, and viewers simply don’t care anymore.
“Simon is getting used to losing these days — his Netflix show was a flop, his new boyband is limping along in the charts… and, well, we all know how what happened with X Factor.
“BGT is an expensive show to make. And if it’s not getting the ratings, it’s hard to see how it can continue.
“Soon, Simon won’t been on telly in the UK.”
Former X Factor judge Louis Walsh recently blasted Cowell and BGT.
“BGT, who cares?! It’s not what it was,” Walsh said, according to The Sun.
“Back in the old days it was pulling in 12 million and the whole country cared who won.
“Now it doesn’t feel like that, who even won last year?
“Cowell was incredible in his prime, I just don’t think he’s got that same instinct now.
“He’s surrounded by people who won’t tell him the truth anymore.
“He’s a family man now, Lauren’s in charge of his diary, and his phone, I’ve not heard from him in years.”
Why This Matters
Falling to record-low launch ratings threatens Britain's Got Talent's advertising revenue and Simon Cowell's influence, signaling audience fatigue with long-running formats and raising stakes for ITV to reinvent or cancel the costly franchise before sponsors and viewers abandon it.
