Britain's Got Talent / Mike Norman / 02 June 2010 /

Mike Norman wasn't impressed with last night's BGT semi final, but he believes we're in for some much better entertainment tonight courtesy of an impressionist, some wacky students and two promising singers.

Last night's second live semi final must rank as one of the worst shows Britain's Got Talent has ever seen. It had everything that is bad in variety entertainment; singers out of tune, dancers out of rhythm, a comedian out of laughs, and some beautiful - but talentless - girls out of... well, clothes!

Perhaps Neil Fullard (my selection from yesterday) was the highlight of the night, but even he didn't make it through to Saturday's final; that honour went to awful boyband Connected and boring dog act Tina and Chandi.

Connected are now available to back at [27.0] to win at the weekend, but if they perform anything like they did last night then they don't have a cat in hell's chance. True, they are a bunch of young kids who must have been incredibly nervous, but in all honesty it showed, and they were woefully out of tune throughout their performance, so much so that the only thing that was connected towards the end of the song was my finger... to the mute button.

Tina and Chandi ([7.2]) I just don't get. Yes, the dog is talented, but what is there to like about a canine that weaves around a stick, lifts one paw up after another, and then stands on its two back legs? And for crying out loud the dog is 12-year-old, it might not even be alive for the Royal Variety Performance should this act triumph on Saturday. Imagine that, Simon Cowell presenting the winner of this year's Britain's Got Talent to the queen, Tina and iDog, or Tina and Tamagotchi, because poor Chandi is no longer with us.

Tonight's third semi final appears at first glance wide open with five acts all available to back at single figure prices, but I personally fancy the chances of Paul Burling ([3.7] to win tonight) quite strongly.

Burling is a dying breed in variety entertainment in that he's a really good comedy impressionist in a competition where singers and dancers usually come to the fore. Burling's audition got plenty of laughs from the audience and judges alike, so tonight he will hopefully have some new material, be equally as good, and have the audience on their feet once more. The only worry I have is that he can impersonate Harry Hill so well that he might go down that route again. If he does, it will show him to be a one-trick-pony and his competition will be over.

I'm willing to take the chance that he doesn't go down that route however, because if I'm right, the [2.1] about Burling in the To Qualify market will look very big indeed.

The surprise act of tonight could well be classical pop act The Arrangement ([4.4] to win tonight), who impressed massively with a bizarre rendition of Crazy In Love at their audition. Despite the 'craziness' aspect of their act these student are talented musicians, and if they can pick a song to suit their style this evening, they could easily be going to the final.

Competition is going to be tough tonight however, with at least three more acts - Christopher Stone ([3.5]), Chloe Hickinbottom ([5.5]) and dance act Peridot ([9.0]) - all in with a chance of progressing further.

Stone is a West End style singer with an incredibly powerful voice. He was criticised at his audition by Cowell for not singing with conviction and swagger. Doubtless he will have worked on that, meaning his performance tonight is hugely anticipated. Hickinbottom meanwhile is a 10-year-old singer who shocked everyone first time up when she performed a rendition of Vera Lynn's White Cliffs Of Dover. I'm not sure what she'll be singing tonight, but if she puts in a repeat performance we might all be saying to Chloe, We'll Meet Again... on Saturday!

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