Britain’s Got Talent made its H๏τly-anticipated return on Saturday, and while viewership has dipped again, the show still delivered a record-breaking episode.

The series launch attracted 5.5million viewers at its peak and pulled in an average audience of 4.6million – making it the biggest entertainment show of the year on ITV. 

Overnight figures revealed that despite the strong numbers, the talent show continues on a downward trend.

Last year’s launch averaged 5million viewers with a 5.8 million peak, compared to the 2023 opener which brought in 6.2 million at its peak.

Back in 2022, following a two-year Covid break, the show peaked at 7.2 million.

Last year’s final of Britain’s Got Talent saw the show’s worst ever ratings in its history, meaning ITV have changed the day of airing for the latest series.

Britain’s Got Talent made its H๏τly-anticipated return on Saturday, and while viewership has dipped again, the show still delivered a record-breaking episode (series launch pictured) 

The series launch attracted 5.5million viewers at its peak and pulled in an average audience of 4.6million – making it the biggest entertainment show of the year on ITV 

BGT will now air every Saturday evening, with a new format taking place for it’s semi-final rounds.

The semi-finals were also air weekly on a Saturday, when previously the live shows took place everyday for a week.

Guest judge KSI has also been signed to the show as a stand-in for Bruno Tonioli, in a bid to attract younger viewers. 

The opening episode of the new series saw a wide variety of new acts vying to show off their talents and get through to the live shows.

Two acts in particular caused controversy, with many viewers calling them inappropriate and ‘shameful’ for young viewers.

They were left particularly unimpressed by a ‘naked comedian’ and a performer who put a corkscrew and meat hook through his nose and out of his mouth.

Japanese performer Akira stood at the front of the stage – using just a tray to protect his modesty. 

The act which he has been perfecting for over a decade, saw him pull off a series of tricks while keeping himself covered. 

Despite the strong numbers, the talent show continues on a downward trend as last year’s launch averaged 5 million viewers with a 5.8 million peak, while the 2023 opener topped out at 6.2 million (pictured L-R Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, guest judge KSI and Bruno Tonioli)

The opening episode of the new series hosted by Ant and Dec saw a wide variety of new acts vying to show off their talents and get through to the live shows.

Two acts in particular caused controversy, including Japanese ‘naked’ performer Akira, with many viewers calling them inappropriate and ‘shameful’ for young viewers

The disgust only continued to grow when a performer named Auzzy Blood put a corkscrew and meat hook through his head and nose, and out of his mouth

However, despite the judges branding the naked comedian ‘hilarious’, ‘cheeky’ and ‘full of balls’, it left some viewers with a bitter taste in their mouth.

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They called out show producers reminding them that children watched the show and seeing a naked man on TV was not right.

The disgust only continued to grow when a performer named Auzzy Blood put a corkscrew and meat hook through his head and nose, and out of his mouth.

The scene was so dangerous that a warning was put out urging viewers to not try the stunt at home – with Dec reiterating the point during the segment.

The horror-stricken act was dressed head to toe gothic attire and had painted their face in a skeleton like face paint.

After twisting the corkscrew and hooks, he then inserted a tube into their nose and out their mouth, instructing Simon to drink from it.

The judges were left terrified as the performers act became more and more gruesome and shocking and he proceeded to put more and more dangerous items in his nose and mouth

The horror-stricken act was dressed head to toe gothic attire and had painted their face in a skeleton like face paint

Simon said of the act: ‘You don’t want to watch it, but you do want to watch it’ before adding that he thought they would get some complaints if they showed it

For the final part of the terrifying act, he pulled himself up into the air from a rope with a hook hanging from their mouth and nose.

Throughout the entire gruesome segment, the audience screamed in terror and all four judges turned their faces and chairs away.

Simon said of the act: ‘It’s spooky horror where you don’t want to watch it, but you do want to watch it. That’s obviously why we’re going to show it. We probably will get some complaints. Hopefully!’

Again viewers took to X to share their shock and horror at seeing such a terrifying act before the watershed.

‘That was grotesque and has no place on a family show #BritainsGotTalent’

‘That is an absolute NO for me. I personally believe the fact you came onto a show like this and stuck hooks through your nose is morally repugnant and totally out of keeping with a family show and a potential Royal Variety act. NO. #BritainsGotTalent #BGT’