Talent show hits new heights

CHANEL HOPPING:

SPELBOUND took “Britain’s Got Talent” to a whole new level in Saturday’s final — right over Amanda Holden’s head at one point . . . nothing new there, then.

The fantastic gymnasts vaulted a strong line-up to clinch a place at the Royal Variety Performance . . . and £100,000 to boot.

For something which threatened to sink into Britain’s got a bucket-load of street dancing wannabes and even more adverts, (lots of ’em) this year’s BGT cavalcade was, all things considered, as Simon Cowell would say, genuinely entertaining.

From chopping-wood-bloke to Man-donna and cross-dressing Kiki Dee from Barnoldswick — it had everything. But like most talent shows, there were a few let-downs as well.

Leading the fight for a coveted place before Her Maj was New Moston lad Liam, who shrugged-off being recognised on the 82 to Piccadilly with a dream ticket to the most-watched TV show of the year so far.

Twist and Pulse body-popped their way to runners-up spot and 2010’s answer to Barbara Woodhouse put paid to the familiar “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” adage by leading 12-year-old Chandi to the last-10 showdown.

Who could forget don’t-try-this-at-home Stevie Starr who had a taste for regurgitation? Bringing up Amanda’s ring on live TV and not making it out of a semi sounds like a Simon Cowell punchline . . . it happened.

Impressionist Paul Burling’s Harry Hill skit somehow made “The Best of TV Burp”, which followed nearly every night last week, pale into insignificance.

Which moves us neatly on, as the big-collared comedian might put it, to my TV bugbear of the week. Yes, it was tragic. I defy anyone with an ounce of compassion not to feel for the families involved. Some will never get over it and no amount of counselling will make things any easier.

With regret, however, we have to resign ourselves to the fact that, on occasion, and let’s hope this kind of thing never happens again, sometimes “Coronation Street” will be pulled from the schedule.

When West Ham old-boy Rio Ferdinand was ruled out of the World Cup, I thought “EastEnders” was going to cop it, too.


Soap roar: “A few scuffs but nothing a good buff wouldn’t sort out.” Trainee second-hand car dealer Darren’s verdict on the latest rusty model to show up on the Albert Square car lot . . . “Footballers’ Wives” star Zoe Lucker.


Soap bore: “EastEnders” again — and the tiresome Werther’s Original-sponsored love triangle between Peggy, Pat and Harvey. Pass the Horlicks.