Britain's Got Talent confirms huge change to semi-finals after 18 years

has made a massive change to its semi-finals after 18 years of airing the last stage of the competition across one week. The semi-final stage of the competition is fast approaching, with just one last pre-recorded episode left to air.

announced today that the semi-finals will now air every Saturday night over five weekends, instead of consecutive days leading up to the final. The first of the semi-finals will air on Saturday 26 April from 7pm. ITV said: "Britain’s Got Talent will be more entertaining than ever before, not only with the addition of the Golden Buzzer for the live shows, but the semi-finals will now air live every Saturday night, claiming the weekends as the home of BGT. Be prepared for unpredictable, unmissable and unbeatable event television."

All semi-finals will air on a Saturday, except for the fourth - which will take place on Sunday 18 May instead.

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In each of the semi-finals, the judges and Ant and Dec will be given control of the r - which pushes someone straight through to the final. announced the news on today, sharing: "I can exclusively reveal another change to this year's format, introducing the brand new live semi-final golden buzzer!

"For the first time in BGT history, the buzzer will now appear during the live rounds. It has already been pressed eight times this series."

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