35 Britain’s Got Talent

Submitted by Equity

Congress notes with concern the continuing reliance of television companies on reality formats to attract large TV audiences and in particular the increasing numbers of ‘talent search’ programmes such as Britain’s Got Talent. The contestants in such programmes are often compelled to enter into restrictive contracts and because of a loophole in the National Minimum Wage Act for competitions they generally do not get paid.

Congress believes that talent search programmes give young people the misleading idea that it is easy to get into and succeed in the entertainment industry.

These programmes may be very popular with the public but are based on exploitation and humiliation of vulnerable people, which cannot be acceptable. A poll by The Guardian found that 67 per cent of the British public thought Susan Boyle, a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent, had been exploited.

The public’s demand for high quality entertainment should be met by professional drama and light entertainment, which has been replaced by this cheap exploitation.

Congress therefore resolves to:

i) call on the makers and broadcasters of reality programmes to ensure that performers in talent search shows are paid in line with industry agreements

ii) highlight the inadequacies of the National Minimum Wage Act, which allow TV companies to exploit people and justify them working for nothing

iii) campaign for more variety and light entertainment, comedy and original drama to be commissioned and made in the UK, drawing on the talents of professional performers.