Britain’s Got Talent 2018 first live show goes off air after ‘technical issues’

The first Britain’s Got Talent live show has been hit with technical issues just minutes in.

After thousands applied and hundreds auditioned, the Britain’s Got Talent search reached the live semi-finals which kicked off tonight.

Following an epic opening number starring BGT acts including Diversity and Richard Jones, Dec took to the stage to begin the first round of performances.

Acts on tonight’s show are Alesha Dixon’s golden buzzer act, Lifford Shillingford, dancers Cali Swing, comedian Lost Voice Guy, vocal group The D-Day Darlings, escapologist Matt Johnson, quick change act Ellie and Jeki, dancer Shameer Rayes and magician Maddox Dixon.

However just moments after Cali Swing performed first, the signal went out.

A screen on ITV and a voice over blamed ‘technical issues’.

Instead of the live show, the channel began to show highlights of auditions.

After around 10 minutes, the show returned live to the Hammersmith Apollo with host Dec blaming the weather in London for the signal problems.

Simon Cowell quipped: “Ant, you’ll be back next year, you didn’t have to do that.”

In the semi-finals, which air all this week, eight of the top 40 acts will perform live in the hope of impressing viewers at home and winning the all-important public vote.

Two acts from each night’s show will make it into the live final on Sunday 3 June, with a chance of winning a life changing £250,000 and a spot at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

This year it won’t just be down to the viewers. The act with the highest public vote will automatically go into the final while the judges will decide between the second and third placed acts as to who will join them.

As always, there will also be some special guests, starting tonight (Monday) with the magical cast of Matilda The Musical.

Throughout the week viewers will also be treated to the musical stylings of Alfie Boe, pop princess Rita Ora, the fabulous cast of Chicago the Musical and reigning BGT champion, musician Tokio Myers.

The live final will also be a spectacle of talent, with what is set to be an incredible performance from the new West End show Tina The Musical and the cast of Magic Mike coming all the way from Las Vegas.

Britain’s Got Talent Live Semi-Finals air Monday 28 May to Friday 2 June at 7.30pm on ITV followed by the Live Results show each night at 9.30pm. Britain’s Got More Talent, also live, airs each night on ITV2 at 10pm. The Live Final airs on ITV on Sunday June 3 at 7.30pm