BRITAIN’S Got Talent bosses are poised to sign a £100million deal that would see the hit show extended over three months.

ITV aims to make it their jewel in the crown that could overtake BBC’s Strictly.

Britain's Got Talent bosses are set to sign a £100million deal which would see the hit show spread over three months, above judge Alesha Dixon
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Britain’s Got Talent bosses are set to sign a £100million deal which would see the hit show spread over three months, above judge Alesha DixonCredit: Alamy

The show is now reaching the end of its five-year contract in 2025, above judge Amanda Holden
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The show is now reaching the end of its five-year contract in 2025, above judge Amanda HoldenCredit: Splash

BGT judges Bruno Tonioli, Ant and Dec, Alesha, Amanda and Simon Cowell
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BGT judges Bruno Tonioli, Ant and Dec, Alesha, Amanda and Simon CowellCredit: PAExpanding BGT — from February to May next year — would also fill the gap left by the axing of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.Recent BGT series have run for seven weeks from mid-April to early June.

The show, produced by Thames, is reaching the end of its five-year contract in 2025.

ITV — boosted by 24billion total BGT views online — is expected to agree a three-year deal, or another five-year deal.

On the night and seven-day catch-up, the show rakes in seven million views on average, down from over 13million in 2009.

But BGT has huge potential earnings in online advertising.

A TV insider said: “BGT has been on since 2007 and viewing numbers are higher than ever — it’s just fans are watching it differently.

“Having over seven million viewers makes it the most watched entertainment show after I’m A Celebrity.

 

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“So BGT’s creators have the upper hand as they strike a new deal.”

The current series’ first episode was watched eight million times on the night and via catch-up.

BGT’s YouTube channel has 20million subscribers. Most viewed clip is Calum Scott singing Dancing On My Own in 2015 (390million views).

In contrast, Strictly’s YouTube has 772,000 subscribers. Its most watched is the pro dancers doing a routine to Cotton Eye Joe (nine million views).

In all, BGT’s latest series has been viewed 660million times across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

Episode one singer Sydnie Christmas’s audition has been viewed 54million times in six weeks.

The insider added: “BGT has often, unfairly, been criticised for including a mix of British and foreign acts. But these can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere in the world.

“Compare that to Strictly whose stars are mostly known only to British audiences.”

A three-month BGT would be filled with roughly six Saturdays of audition shows, followed by six Saturdays of semis, then a final. There is even scope for a Sunday results show.

Currently semis and final all air in a week. This year it ends on June 2.

A call for acts for the 2025 season has already gone out, with auditions expected to be earlier, in October.

ITV and Thames did not comment.

Below, we have listed BGT’s Top Ten viewed clips online.

CALUM SCOTT (2015) 390M VIEWS

Calum Scott finished in sixth place in 2015
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Calum Scott finished in sixth place in 2015Credit: ITV
SINGER was part of a Maroon 5 tribute band when he auditioned for series nine and got Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer after performing Robyn’s hit Dancing on My Own.

Calum made it to the final but finished in sixth place.

SUSAN BOYLE (2009) 262M VIEWS

Susan Boyle lost to dance troupe Diversity in 2009
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Susan Boyle lost to dance troupe Diversity in 2009Credit: Ken McKay
THE Scot blew everyone away with a perfect rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

Susan reached the final but lost to dance troupe Diversity.

She went on to huge international success, thanks to her audition clip going viral.

BARS & MELODY (2014) 251M VIEWS

Leondre Devries and Charlie Lenehan finished third in 2014
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Leondre Devries and Charlie Lenehan finished third in 2014Credit: PA:Press Association
RAPPER Leondre Devries and singer Charlie Lenehan teamed up for series eight and made the live semi-finals with their school bullying spin on Faith Evans track Hope.

The pals, who met online, lost out to Collabro, ending up in third place.

PAUL POTTS (2007) 195M VIEWS

Paul Potts won the first series of BGT in 2007
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Paul Potts won the first series of BGT in 2007Credit: Rex
THE tenor won the first series after stunning the judges with his version of opera classic Nessun dorma.

Paul went on to become a star, and in a film about his rise to fame — called One Chance — he was played by James Corden.

BONETICS (2015) 171M VIEWS

Shak Alade's moves earned him a whopping 171m views online
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Shak Alade’s moves earned him a whopping 171m views onlineCredit: Corbis
VIEWERS cringed at seeing 17-year-old Shak Alade contort his body in weird and wacky ways.

He impressed the judges when he told them dancing had helped him overcome behavioural issues, but left them shocked with his routine.

JONATHAN & CHARLOTTE (2012) 148M VIEWS

Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli came second in series six
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Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli came second in series sixCredit: Handout
FANS fell in love with opera singer Jonathan Antoine as he appeared to be hit by stage fright in series six.

But he and partner Charlotte Jaconelli then got a standing ovation for their performance of The Prayer and ended up coming second overall.

NATALIE OKRI (2009) 129M VIEWS

Natalie Okri, 10, signed with Cowell’s Syco label after reaching the semi finals in 2009
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Natalie Okri, 10, signed with Cowell’s Syco label after reaching the semi finals in 2009Credit: Ken McKay
THE ten-year-old schoolgirl started singing aged four.

She stunned the judges with her version of the Alicia Keys hit No One and got a standing ovation from Kelly Brook.

Natalie reached the semi-finals and later signed with Cowell’s Syco label.

DARCEY OAKE (2014) 126M VIEWS

Darcy Oake made the final of BGT in 2014 and racked up 126m views online
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Darcy Oake made the final of BGT in 2014 and racked up 126m views onlineCredit: PA:Press Association
THE Canadian illusionist made birds appear from burning feathers.

Judge David Walliams hailed his series eight magic act the best he’d seen.

Darcy made the final, where he was suspended above a bear trap on a burning rope, but came fifth.

ASANDA JEZILE (2013) 107M VIEWS

Asanda made the final in 2013 and competed to represent the UK at Eurovision
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Asanda made the final in 2013 and competed to represent the UK at EurovisionCredit: PA:Press Association
ASANDA was 11 when she performed Rihanna’s track Diamonds.

As she brought her sass to the stage judge Alesha Dixon told her: “Your voice is incredible!”

She made the series seven final and in 2018 competed to represent the UK at Eurovision.

 

NICO & PADDY (2014) 92M VIEWS

Paddy Jones and Nico became firm favourites in 2014 with the judges
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Paddy Jones and Nico became firm favourites in 2014 with the judgesCredit: ITV
SALSA loving pensioner Paddy Jones and her dance partner Nico lit up the stage with their acrobatic routine in series eight.

They finished ninth in the finals, but became firm favourites with the judges, especially Amanda Holden.

By Rod McPhee, TV Editor

WHAT does this mean for Saturday night telly?

ITV are well and truly drawing the battle lines with the BBC.

Sure, the three-month series won’t go head-to-head with the Beeb’s entertainment goliath. But there’ll be more of a comparison.

The talent show has 12 weeks to build up a momentum and it might just help to boost ratings.

The Beeb will fear big shows like Gladiators may have to fight harder to get people tuning in.

For a long time it felt like ITV cowered to the BBC’s dominance of Saturday night telly — now they’re playing to their strengths with the bigger, better BGT.

And the corporation can no longer rest on its laurels.