Fans of Britain’s Got Talent are urging producers to drop a particular filming technique, claiming it’s ruining their viewing experience.

The latest season premiered on ITV over the weekend, but instead of focusing on the performances, many viewers found themselves distracted by an excessive use of slow-motion effects. Frustrated fans took to social media, calling on the show to scale back its reliance on the editing trick, arguing that it adds nothing to the spectacle.

One viewer vented: “What’s with this obsession with slow motion? Just let us watch the performances properly without all these unnecessary effects!” Another joked: “Whoever is responsible for the slow-mo is making a fortune this season!” Someone else wrote: “Seriously, BGT producers—there are better special effects out there. Even my phone can do this!”

Others humorously pointed out how the constant slow-motion shots were dragging out the runtime. “Without all the slow-mo, this show would be half an hour shorter!” one fan quipped. But the camera work wasn’t the only source of frustration. Many viewers were also unimpressed with Ant and Dec’s choice for the Golden Buzzer, with some arguing that the honor wasn’t deserved.

Fans fumed there are ‘better special effects’ ( 
Image:
ITV)

During the episode, 25-year-old comedian Will Burns wowed the presenting duo with his impressions of celebrities like David Attenborough and Gary Barlow. As a longtime BGT superfan, he was visibly thrilled when Ant and Dec sent him straight to the live shows with their Golden Buzzer. However, not everyone agreed with their decision.

One unimpressed fan posted: “Let’s be honest, the only reason Ant and Dec gave him the Golden Buzzer is because he’s a massive fan of the show. If he wasn’t, they wouldn’t have done it.” Another viewer didn’t hold back, saying: “That was the most undeserved Golden Buzzer I’ve ever seen. He wasn’t even funny. The only time I laughed was when they pressed it—because I couldn’t believe such a bad audition got through.”

The controversy has sparked debate among fans, with some feeling the moment was more about sentimentality than talent. Whether the show will take feedback on board remains to be seen.

As we welcomed season 18 to our screens over the weekend, presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made their epic return to the ITV show alongside judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and brand-new member of the judging panel, YouTuber KSI.

The new series aired earlier than previous years which have usually launched in April, but instead, the 2025 series will now air weekly for four months – with the finale set to be broadcast in May. Avid fans of the ITV show will know that in previous years, the semi-finals would air every day in the last week of the series. However, in a massive change to the format, this year it is believed every semi-final will air on a Saturday which means season 18 will be the longest series in the history of the ITV show.