Britain's Got Talent is pulling in about 10 million viewers a night and it's easy to see why when you see the line-up of talent on offer on stage tonight.
Ant & Dec begin the introductions and as the judges make their way into the auditorium, the contestants as waiting nervously backstage. Not for long though... and soon the first performer of the evening, James Stone, takes to the stage.
James performs the Joe Cocker/Tom Jones hit You Can Leave Your Hat On - and with his sexy dancers and smouldering self, there's a sexy mood on the stage! This isn't the Full Monty though - and while James' leotard-clad dancers do step out of their robes, the singer manages to stay fully clothed. Still it didn't stop Amanda undressing him with her eyes!
"You're very gorgeous. I love your snake hips. You make me feel happy", she told him.
Doing it for the kids tonight is 13 year-old Billericay boy Charlie Wernham. Charlie has great comic timing and he had provided a lot of laughs for the studio audience and the folks at home. We loved his joke about writing poetry - but only getting halfway through and only managing 'Poe'!
Piers told him, "Charlie you're terribly funny. Your jokes are terrible. But you were still funny. I loved the act!"
"You're like Jim Davidson, but funny. These were Christmas cracker jokes, but everyone laughed," agreed Simon.
On to the first dance act of the evening, and it was the Harlequin dancers who provided a rip-roaring fiddle-fest of Irish dancing and arms-aloft jigs. It may not all have been traditional Riverdance - but Declan Donnelly, a one-time Irish dancer himself, was certainly impressed.
"We've seen lots of groups like you and that was the best so far. But can you tap dance?"
And then Simon rounded on Piers and Amanda said, "Do you want to take this outside so I can tell everyone what I think?"
Simon: "Three yes's!"
You could have been mistaken for thinking that Paulo Nutini had dropped by, instead of the next act, as the Macca-lookalike singing plumber, Andrew Muir, delivered a great strong version of Last Request. Andrew was swamped by a smog of dry ice during his performance - but luckily he had on bright yellow show and a dayglo watch so that the judges could still see where he was on the stage! Then there was, well, a LOT of cheering!
"There were two problems for me - one you didn't tap dance and secondly, those shoes!" said Piers.
Ant choked: "Don't take style tips from Piers Morgan!"
But hopefully Piers is better at clairvoyancy. "I felt a bit of a Paul Potts moment. You were that good tonight.
Amanda said, "Great talent, great voice."
And Simon said, "I didn't think it was a great choice of song. The shoes and the watch are horrible but I think you've got a very good voice. I really like you."
It's off to the commercial break on the show and while the nation makes a cuppa you can decide which first half act was your favourite, then sit down to savour the rest of the entertainment. Don't forget that you can have your say on the show using the comments spaces below!
