Simon Cowell
'Britain's Got Talent' fans have moaned about what they call a lack of British contestants on this year's series of the talent show.
TV viewers have criticised the producers for lining up so many foreign acts after half of the auditionees on Saturday's debut episode hailed from abroad.
Controversial star Katie Hopkins led the rant, venting on Twitter: "Right that's it, Ukip. I am singing up. Britain has got talent. The clue is in the title."
Another user said, "Why can't foreigners go on telly in their OWN country?", while another raged, "I see #BGT is full of foreigners again".
The launch episode drew a record 12.3 million viewers, with highlights including dance act Light Balance from Ukraine, French drummer Jerome Dehedin, and German violinist Peter Panduranga.
Other memorable acts include Giorgio The King of Karaoke from Greece and salsa dancing granny Paddy Jones and her partner Nico Espinosa, who live in Spain.
A 'BGT' spokesperson told the Daily Star newspaper: "It's a testament to the success of the series that so many people from across Europe want to travel to the UK to appear on it following the global success of people such as Susan Boyle and Paul Potts."
Show boss Simon Cowell also defended the rules, which allow anyone who has the right to work in the UK to apply.
He said: "It makes it more of a contest. It's Brits against the rest of the world."
Tagged in Katie Hopkins Paul Potts Susan Boyle