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BRITAIN’S Got Talent fans have been left furious as the new series aired on ITV, and it’s undergone some big changes.

The new series of Britain’s Got Talent kicked off on Saturday night on ITV, but it sparked an instant reaction from viewers – and it wasn’t a good one.

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KSI is a guest judge on the opening episode of Britains Got Talent on ITV[/caption]

ITV

The audience at the auditions gave a huge welcome to KSI as he joined the judges on stage[/caption]

As the opening credits revealed the judges with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon entering on a red carpet, there was one judge nowhere to be seen.

Bruno Tonioli, who usually sits on the far left of the judges panel, will feature in the rest of the auditions but was unavailable due to schedule conflicts.

In his place was YouTube star, singer, rapper and pro boxer KSI, but many viewers were left confused over the show’s new addition.

Taking to social media, one annoyed viewer wrote on X: “I’ve no idea who KSI is.”

Another shared: “Why have they brought in KSI, he is unbearable.”

“KSI being a guest judge just shows how desperate BGT is getting,” said a third.

Another slammed the show as they wrote: “‘This season will be bigger and better than ever’ Here’s KSI. No it won’t.”

“My God, who is this annoying talentless guy called KSI? And why is he on BGT,” wrote another.

An equally unimpressed viewer wrote: “Someone turn ksi mic off!”

KSI joined the judges with a warm welcome from his fellow judges in the opening scenes of the ITV show, before he revealed to camera how strange he finds it being on the iconic show.

He shared: “Yeah it’s quite surreal ’cause obviously I’ve seen BGT for many years so to be on this side is kind of weird.”

Whilst fans at home weren’t keen on the temporary judge, KSI was welcomed to a roaring crowd as hosts Ant and Dec announced him to the stage for the auditions.

KSI had previously filled in for Bruno Tonioli during three days of audition tapings last year, as ITV disclosed, due to Bruno’s commitments with Dancing with the Stars in the States.

Speaking about his involvement with the ITV show, KSI shared: “I’m so excited to be a guest judge for Britain’s Got Talent. When I got the call up, I couldn’t believe it.

“I remember watching old BGT episodes and going from being amazed to laughing my a**e off. I’m buzzing to see all the fresh new talent, and I’ll be sure to leave a mark!”

Britain’s Got Talent returns Saturday March 1st to ITV1 and ITVX at 7pm.

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KSI replaced Bruno Tonioli on the judges panel, as Bruno was unavailable due to schedule conflicts[/caption]

ITV

KSI said joining the BGT judges panel was ‘surreal’[/caption]

A MAJOR fast food chain with over 1,000 restaurants across the UK has abruptly shut one of its popular sites.

Local fans of the restaurant giant have been left stunned and disappointed by the news.

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The abrupt store closure has left customers disappointed[/caption]

The KFC branch in Beverley Road, Hull, has closed its doors for good, the fast food giant has confirmed.

It pulled down the shutters for the final time on Friday, February 14, and will not be reopening.

All staff at the restaurant and takeaway in Beverley Road have been relocated to the city centre branch in Jameson Street, KFC have said.

A KFC spokesperson said: “We’ve loved serving our Beverley Road community and we constantly review our portfolio of over 1,000 restaurants across the UK to ensure we can best serve our customers.

“At times, this sadly means we have to take the tough decision to close a restaurant.

“Our loyal KFC fans can still enjoy our delicious fried chicken at our nearby Jameson Street, Kingswood Retail Park and The Beacon restaurants.”

Customers were left stunned by the news with one saying they were “gutted” after the closure.

Another said that it was a “sad day” that yet another store was closing down.

KFC also closed a solo stores in Felixstowe last year and a string of 13 KFC branches permanently closed last year after its franchise holder entered administration.

Weymouth, Maidstone, Crayford and Bournemouth sites were among those affected.

Among 53 KFC outlets owned by Caskade, administrator Begbies Traynor said 40 of these restaurants were bought by another franchise, Adil Group.

KFC is owned by Yum! Brands, the company behind Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

It has over 1,000 restaurants in the UK and some are franchises.

But its not all bad news for KFC fans after the fried chicken firm launched £1 kids meals just in time for half term.

The kid’s meal boxes, which usually cost from £4.49, are available for just £1 in KFC stores nationwide.

The offer runs from February 10 to March 2 so you can make the most of the deal at half term.

Each kids meal also comes with a regular side, regular drink and a fruit pineapple stick and is only available via click & collect on the KFC App or website.

One kid’s meal deal can be redeemed per transaction and you can buy as many as you like a day.

The Kid’s £1 deal isn’t the only cash-saving grub on the KFC menu.

You can now order a lunchtime-only Kentucky Original Wrap for £2.49.

The fan favourite is a chicken fillet with crunchy iceberg lettuce, black pepper mayo and a tortilla wrap.

What is happening to the hospitality industry?

Many Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.

Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.

Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.

Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.

Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.

Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans

BGT fans were seriously underwhelmed by one audition – moments before the contestant received the first golden buzzer of the series.

Fans were slamming Vinnie McKee’s rendition of 500 Miles before Simon Cowell jumped out of his seat to press the golden buzzer on Saturday night.

Vinnie, 29, performed the iconic song 500 Miles – but in a very different way to how viewers know of the hit.

In a ballad-style, Vinnie crooned the hit and left the audience watching on in Blackpool stunned.

Fans thought that Vinnie was an excellent singer, but questioned the style of the rendition of the song.

“No, no, no. Good voice but ruining that song,” penned one person during his performance.

Another added: “What does singing the song like this add to the song? It’s cheap and nasty. Sing it properly ffs.”

While a third fumed: “Nope, you dont mess with 500 miles!”

But despite the backlash Vinnie’s rendition of the song received, the judges loved it and one even pressed the golden buzzer.

Simon was stunned by Vinnie’s performance, and when the audience were leaping from their seats and demanding the golden buzzer to get pressed – the head judge couldn’t resist.

Pressing the golden buzzer, gold confetti fell from the ceiling and Vinnie looked shook to the core.

Simon then said he was “actually quite speechless” before the other judges gave their feedback.

Alesha Dixon congratulated him and said “you were fighting”.

New judge KSI swooned that Vinnie was “outstanding”.

While Amanda Holden gushed “your voice is just superb”.

Many fans were overjoyed with Simon’s decision to press the first golden buzzer of the series.

“This was a bloody brilliant. I got quite emotional listening to Vinnie’s version. I’m so glad he got Simon’s golden buzzer,” penned one viewer on X.

A second added: “This guy really deserves that Golden Buzzer. He literally changed the genre of what a soul singer should be.”

While a third penned: “Absolutely deserved that gold. What an incredible version of that song.”

And a fourth said: “Loved that version of what’s normally a novelty song. Turned it into a ballad, brilliant.”

But not all fans agreed with the golden buzzer decision.

One said: “I mean, Vinnie was good but not sure if it was golden buzzer good.”

JOSEPH PARKER takes on Martin Bakole in a huge heavyweight bout TONIGHT.

Parker was due to face Daniel Dubois for DDD’s IBF world title, but the British champion withdrew from the fight on Thursday due to illness.

In stepped Bakole in his place, who will be looking to seize his opportunity on tonight’s blockbuster Artur Beterbiv vs Dmitry Bivol card in Riyadh.

The pair will battle for Parker’s WBO interim world title, with the winner of the bout becoming the WBO mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the full title.

• Start time: expected 9:10pm GMT (approx)
• TV/Stream: DAZN PPV/Sky Sports Box Office/TNT Sports Box Office

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West Ham got the job done against Arsenal.

Ian Wright believes Arsenal supporters lacked ‘energy’ at the Emirates Stadium during their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to make ground on Liverpool and remain eight points behind the Premier League leaders, who play Manchester City on Sunday.

Jarrod Bowen’s first-half goal was enough to secure the win for West Ham, while Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances and registered just two shots on target during the game.

Wright feels Arsenal’s hierarchy needed to bolster Arteta’s attacking options in the January transfer window and claims the supporters are now responding to the team’s lack of attacking threat.

‘I think you probably have to look at the summer and January, he [Arteta] needed help,’ Wright told Premier League Productions.

‘Like I said at the start, I don’t think he could do any more in respect of trying to coach this team to the levels they’ve got to at the moment.

‘I think what you saw with this game is just a little bit of a bridge too far in respect of a team that is defending brilliantly well and we just haven’t got the ammunition to break them down.

‘I didn’t think we had the energy in the crowd today, they seemed to see that there was no energy in the team and we couldn’t put them under the kind of pressure for West Ham to crack, they were too resolute today.

‘Again, the manager can’t do any more with what he’s got, I believe.’

Asked if Arsenal could still win the Premier League title, Wright replied: ‘You have to have that intention.

‘I’m sure Liverpool will be thinking with eight points clear we’re going to go and see this off.

‘But you have to believe you can do it, otherwise what are you playing for?’

Wright later added: ‘I think you look at Liverpool as well, people saying Arsenal have to win to put the pressure on, Liverpool are winning games and keeping the pressure on an Arsenal team who haven’t got the firepower to try and stay with them.

‘Look at that game today, if West Ham scored two you think where are we going to get three goals from?

‘Those are the things you are thinking going into it. That’s why I was a little bit down today, because I’m thinking, ‘where’s it going to come from if we go behind?’. And that’s exactly what’s happened.’

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