KSI is the best thing to happen to Britain’s Got Talent since Susan Boyle

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Britain’s Got Talent’s latest episode reached a bizarre point, with a dog performing parkour receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience and most of the judges.

Simon Cowell is incredibly excited and feels very fortunate. He’s reacting as if he’s found another act as unexpectedly successful as Ashleigh and Pudsey, the winning dog and owner from Britain’s Got Talent – the pair who surprisingly ended up with their own movie, despite little public demand.

Good news for viewers – KSI is joining the judging panel! He’ll bring a fresh perspective and likely challenge Simon, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon.

I expected to dislike KSI when he appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, as I hadn’t really paid attention to what he’d been doing. I know he first became famous on YouTube and then used the money he earned to become a rapper – my nephew is a big fan and plays his music constantly, whether I like it or not!

I find it hard to identify any meaningful positive cultural contributions from KSI, despite his large following. I’ve often seen him as someone simply chasing money. His association with Logan Paul, particularly their 2022 launch of the Prime energy drink, is concerning. The drink has faced bans in some schools due to its high caffeine content and caused disruption with kids lining up for hours to purchase it.

I haven’t been impressed with KSI as a role model until recently. However, he’s been a fantastic addition to Britain’s Got Talent – the best since Susan Boyle!

Britain’s Got Talent has proven incredibly durable, still attracting millions of viewers and remaining a major success for ITV, even though many other reality shows have faded away. It’s remarkable that, after 18 years, BGT has lasted longer than The X Factor. With its 20th anniversary just a year away, there’s no talk of the show being cancelled.

However, the show has become less and less part of the cultural conversation. It’s hard to find people who can even name the recent winners. In my own social circle, nobody can, and I suspect that’s true for most people – far fewer remember the winners than remember past viral sensations like Paul Potts, Diversity, or George Sampson.

KSI joining the show reflects a necessary shift in direction. Simply hiring a judge from Strictly Come Dancing wasn’t enough, but bringing on KSI is a surprising and effective move – one I doubted would work, but it clearly does.

What bothers me most about Britain’s Got Talent is how unoriginal it feels, especially compared to when it discovered real talent. Many of the acts have already appeared on other versions of the show internationally, and it leans heavily into national pride in a way I find tiresome. The first episode usually ends with a predictable drone display celebrating Britain, focusing on things like King Charles, Big Ben, and the Union Jack.

KSI, by contrast, is a breath of fresh air.

He doesn’t bother with false admiration for something ordinary, like a dog jumping a wall. He’s reminiscent of the early Simon Cowell – bluntly honest and captivating on television, but without the later scandals that made that style unsustainable.

Simon Cowell has a history of discovering successful performers, as evidenced by the chart-topping and sometimes blockbuster success of acts from shows like Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor. However, his recent attempt to launch a new boyband, December 10, hasn’t gone as well. Despite a Netflix series and significant investment, their debut single only reached number 72 on the UK charts, raising questions about whether he still has the knack for finding stars.

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The music scene and what’s popular with young people have changed dramatically since Simon Cowell was at his most influential. Cowell, and the other judges on Britain’s Got Talent, don’t really understand Gen Z, while KSI clearly does. He naturally knows what younger audiences want and doesn’t fall for the same tricks Cowell does.

Britain’s Got Talent is back with some truly impressive performances. The show continues to be a hit because it embraces all kinds of talent – from the quirky and unusual to genuinely breathtaking acts of courage. This season features incredible moments like a woman juggling a flaming table with her feet, a wheelchair user performing stunning aerial acrobatics worthy of Cirque du Soleil, and a magician who’s as captivating as Derren Brown.

Britain’s Got Talent remains popular for two main reasons: the performers can be incredibly talented, and the show’s basic structure has stayed largely the same since it began, with the Golden Buzzer being the only major addition.

It’s perfect family viewing – but it has never felt especially forward-thinking.

David Walliams always seemed a bit out of place on the show. He didn’t really offer anything different from the other judges – Amanda, Alesha, and Simon – and he didn’t come across as genuine. KSI, however, is surprisingly authentic.

He’s revitalizing Britain’s Got Talent and ensuring its success well into the future, something very few performers could achieve. After concerns the show might be losing steam, it now feels like it’s entering a particularly thrilling new phase.

Authors

Adam Miller
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2026-02-21 15:37