ITV’s hit entertainment show, Britain’s Got Talent returns for a fourth year following an incredible series which saw Diversity crowned as the 2009 winners.

Hosted by Ant and Dec, with Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden on the judging panel, the show once again travels the length and breadth of the UK in search of Britain’s best talent. The only rule is that there are no rules! The show is open to any performer, any age, from any background, with any talent. All they need is a skill and star quality that they think will impress the judges.

Last year’s show delivered a fantastic mix of talent with show winners Diversity proving they had incredible skill and imagination with their dance routines. These creative performances not only captured the hearts of the nation but inspired teens across the UK to want to dance. Audition sensation and series runner up Susan Boyle has since received worldwide acclaim for her debut album which had the biggest opening for a female artist ever and soon achieved the accolade of biggest selling worldwide album of last year.

With only a few minutes available during the auditions, the acts don’t have long to impress. Each judge has a buzzer in front of them, when they press their buzzer a corresponding red cross will light on the stage. Once all three buzzers have gone off, their time is over. For some of the acts the walk on stage lasts longer that their performance! As with previous years the public are allowed access to the audition venues in all the major cities around the country. And although the audience can’t buzz the acts out like the judges, their reactions can influence their decision. So with the audience acting as the fourth judge it’s crucial the acts win them over as much as the judges.

During the audition shows Ant and Dec are waiting in the wings, to meet and support the auditionees, congratulate the successful and console those who fail to impress. Once the show goes live in the studio, Ant & Dec will host the proceedings and crown the eventual winner, as decided by the public.

For the first time in the shows history, the live shows will be broadcast in HD. The winner will receive a life changing £100,000 and the chance to perform at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

Britain’s Got Talent is a talkbackTHAMES/Syco TV production for ITV1.