Last year in 2009 BGT had plenty to write about and an interesting selection of talent and scandal to consider; Susan Boyle without a doubt provided the rags-to-riches story of the decade which will take some beating for a long time to come. Then there was young tantrum-thrower Hollie Steel getting an unheard of second chance at performing her song in the final when she forgot her lines. We had the totally unique counter-tenor Greg Pritchard’s soaring voice being sabotaged by the producer’s appalling choice of song and presentation for his appearance in the final and the brilliant father and son act Stavros Flatley who are still cashing in – and rightly so – on their 2009 success. Take it while you can get it guys!

This year’s effort though was simply not up to scratch in my opinion which is why I have written so little about it here whereas last year there was plenty of fodder for thought. Even the glaringly untalented auditionees were not as morbidly entertaining as previous years. I am beginning to wonder if Simon Cowell would consider having a category specifically for those copy-cat dance troupes who seem to dominate the auditions; sorry but to me they are all the same, you see one you’ve seen them all – they all do pretty much the same body twisting contortions to jumpy-rappy music. Is this the only type of dancing being done these days…? Diversity did it once and best, those following in their wake might insist they are unique and different…but not in any way obvious to me.

For the past three years dancers in some form have won the final – George Sampson, Diversity and last night Spelbound took out the top prize. Good for them I say, congratulations certainly as they are a talented bunch of young people despite their dreadful faux tans…I however would have preferred to see young drummer Kieran Gaffney (above) be declared the winner as he is a very talented musician and it has been a long time since the world had a Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa to astound music fans. I really hope that the ‘Jade Goody syndrome‘ applies in Kieran’s case here whereby we see the runner-up enjoying far more success than the actual winner – remember Kate Lawler anyone…?

Christopher Stone too sang beautifully and is no doubt ‘the’ find of this years series deserves any success which comes his way. I know we have not seen the last of young Kieran or Christopher, so well done guys.

British television has produced some of the best entertainment ever seen, and continues to do so, why then can the industry not pull it together and give viewers a decent awards show anymore? last night’s Brit Awards was, in the words of mediocre compere Peter Kay, “twenty minutes of entertainment stretched over two hours…”

And he could not have been more correct and even those twenty minutes was a stretch. The two things that can really make a show like this work brilliantly is a) the host and, b) the writers. You had Peter Kay as host, one of the UK’s top comedians and yet he was let down badly by what he was given to say presentation-wise. I have to be honest and admit that Peter Kay’s appeal in the funny-stakes escapes me, I like a really dry delivery – which is what he has – but I just cannot find him funny enough to laugh at. Maybe it is because I’m not from ‘Up North’ – I have seen Micheal Parkinson almost fall out of his chair laughing at this guy, well he would wouldn’t he…?

The awards were given out to some really run-of-the-mill acts, except I guess for Lady GaGa…her stuff is starting to sound the same to me though. Unless she becomes the queen of reinvention a-la Madonna you will be hearing Poker Face type songs from her still in ten years time. Liam Gallagher – what can you say about this twat other than “grow up you imbecile”. That ‘moody, cool swaggering’ might have gone over fine when you were a young fella Liam, but now you just look like a cantankerous old twit – and as for your giggling-idiot of a wife Nicole Appleton…a has-been if ever there was a never-would-be.

The British television industry has some of the greatest comedy writers in the world – just look at Yes, Prime Minister; One Foot in the Grave; Dinnerladies…all a brilliantly varied mix of  biting satire and comedic genius and yet we get productions like last night’s effort. Where are the great writers when the producers are putting these shows together! find them, use them, and get a host who can deliver the goods. And one last thing: Put Jonathon Ross out to pasture.