Ant McPartlin, the co-host of Britain's Got Talent, expressed his support for the martial arts acrobatic group Ssaulabi ahead of the ITV show's semi-finals which commenced on Monday. Ssaulabi, who traveled from South Korea, earned a Golden Buzzer from Ant and Dec during the initial audition of the new series. In an Instagram post, Ant enthusiastically endorsed the group as potential winners. Despite Ant’s optimism, bookmakers consider Denise & Stefan and Sydnie Christmas as the more likely winners this year.
During Monday's semi-final, opera singer Innocent Masuku's performance drew viewer complaints on social media, with many claiming the backing music overpowered his vocals. However, Innocent topped the public vote and secured a place in the final, despite sound issues. This semi-final also saw fan frustration over the placement of several strong acts in the same line-up, leading to claims of an 'unfair' competition structure.
Meanwhile, a travel expert warned holidaymakers against sharing specific travel dates on social media to avoid alerting potential burglars to their empty homes. Recommendations included using private messaging for travel arrangements and being cautious with personal identifiers in photographs. In other news related to government services, the DWP released new guidelines for Universal Credit claimants, detailing the necessary ID documents for the verification process to prevent identity fraud.
Lastly, an Antiques Roadshow guest shared a chilling story about a haunted family portrait, which an expert valued between £7,000 and £8,000 despite its age and condition. The painting is believed to be of Aaron Delano, a young sea captain who was lost at sea in 1794 and reportedly haunts the family’s home.