ITV Shifts BGT Semi-Final to Avoid Eurovision Clash

The semi-final has been 'moved' to avoid a scheduling clash with . 

The 19th series of the talent show returned to screens in February and in a matter of weeks, fans will find out who will be crowned winner. 

The first semi-final aired on April 25, followed by the most recent which was broadcast on May 2 between 7pm and 9pm. 

According to the SuperTV X account, the fourth semi-final will air on May 16 on ITV an hour earlier, meaning that it will be broadcast between 6pm and 8pm.

This is believed to be to avoid a clash with the Eurovision grand final, hosted by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, which will air live on One from 8pm. 

The Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment. 

The Eurovision final will wrap up at 11:30pm, following on from the semi-finals on Tuesday May 12 and Thursday May 14 on BBC One from 8pm.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, this year. 

Look Mum No Computer, real name Sam Battle, is representing the UK in the competition. 

The solo artist said: 'I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey.

'I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously. 

'I’ve been working a long-time creating, writing, and producing my own visions from scratch, and documenting my process. 

'I will be bringing every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear and see what we’ve created. 

'I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!'

Austria won last year and it was singer JJ, who performed Wasted Love, that proudly held up the trophy. 

Last month Britain's Got Talent was hit by a wave of complaints as viewers hit out against a machete stunt they dubbed 'too dangerous for TV'.

Fans of the programme took to the broadcasting regulator to express their concern over the decision to air the knife trick. 

Fakir Testa took to the stage in a death-defying audition earlier this month, which saw him suspended in the air with a long machete around his neck. 

Fakir, 45, demonstrated his strength as he held himself up using the machete, while also pulling a car across the stage using the same knife. 

Fans took to social media to complain the act made them feel 'sick', with Testa also using machetes as steps on a ladder he climbed while barefoot. 

The audience were shown covering their faces and letting out shouts of concern as the stunt man continued his performance. 

Elsewhere, judges Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon were left unable to watch the stunts, and pressed their red buzzers as Fakir continued his display. 

Viewers watching on were met with a number of 'do not try this at home' warning messages throughout the two-minute long performance. 

Ofcom revealed they received a number of complaints from viewers after the act was broadcast on the Saturday night show - with 151 viewers reaching out. 

An Ofcom spokesperson told The Sun of the complaints: 'The majority of complaints related to Fakir Testa’s audition.'

As the audition played out on screen, dozens of viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to complain about the use of the machetes, hitting out it was 'f***ing lunacy'.

One penned: 'F***s sake. This is on pre watershed. Do better ITV,' as another chimed in: 'This is NOT talent! This is f***** lunacy.'

Another simply said they felt 'sick' watching the stunts, as a fourth added: 'I can’t watch! Why are they showing this for family entertainment?' 

It's not the first time a BGT act has been dished out Ofcom complaints, as earlier this month the ITV show received more than 100  complaints following a stomach-churning act which left a man bleeding on stage.

Viewers fumed 'Why on earth would they broadcast that?' as Leroy Patterson, 42, shocked everyone in the audience and at home with his unusual act.

As well as sharing their discomfort online, a total of 108 complaints were submitted to the broadcasting watchdog. 

As he moved to the front of the stage, Leroy, from , quickly took off his t-shirt and jeans live on stage sparking confusion in the auditorium.

He then revealed he would be sharing, and demonstrating, his three most important safety tips - the first of which saw him suddenly launch his bare stomach onto a bed of mousetraps.

For his next 'tip', Leroy sat directly on a chair covered in a pile of strips studded with hundreds of sharp, angled nails.

And finally, Leroy turned on a weed strimmer - a garden power tool used for cutting plants at speed - before running straight through them and sustaining multiple cuts to his body.

'Tonight, I will be doing three very important safety tips, okay?' Leroy began, before introducing his first 'tip'.

He said: 'Lesson number one, if you find yourself in front of a pile of mouse traps, do not do this.'

Leroy then positioned himself behind a pile of mouse traps before launching himself forward and down on top of them, with several attaching themselves to his stomach.

For his next act, Leroy said: 'Tip number two, if you find yourself next to a chair filled with carpet tax strips - never do this.'

Leroy then proceeded to sit down on the chair covered in the strips, featuring hundreds of tiny needles, as the audience gasped in horror.

And finally, for Leroy's final 'tip', he said: 'If you find yourself in front of a tunnel of weed strimmers, do not turn them on.'

He then switched on the weed strimmers and demonstrated how they destroy flowers - before running at force from the other side of the stage straight through them.

As Leroy walked back to the front of the stage he had sustained many cuts and scratches and still had a mouse trap hanging off him.

When KSI asked 'what do we call that?', Leroy was quick to laugh and say: 'Stupidity.'

'I wanted something that's going to make me squirm, something dangerous - and Leroy came and answered,' said KSI.

As both Alesha and Stacey had said no, KSI got the audience involved in a chant to keep him and he eventually got 3 yeses, making it through.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, horrified viewers wrote: 'I bet OFCOM will hear about this,'; 'He’s bleeding what the hell he took this too far definitely not a talent,';

'Mousetraps... you nutter,'; 'GET HIM OFF!!!!!!'; 'I don't need to throw my dinner back up thank you,'; 'Why in God green earth would they even broadcast that?!?!?!';

'Ok on late night tv. But not for me granny or grandchildren's viewing on prime time Saturday night tv,'; 'So hows that a talent? Pure stupidity,';

'Don't try this at home! Really surprised they showed this, just stupidity!!!'

Britain's Got Talent airs Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.