There has been no shortage of weird and wonderful contestants over the years.
But the new series of Britain’s Got Talent is set to feature some of the wackiest yet.
The latest crop of oddball acts attempting to impress Simon Cowell and his fellow judges includes a dancing racoon and a donkey that attempts to paint.
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Simon on stage: Cowell appears on the Britain's
Got Talent stage for the first time to receive a striptease as this
year's oddball acts are revealed
Cowell will be joined on the judging panel by singer Alesha Dixon, comedian David Walliams and actress Amanda Holden.
This year, hosts Ant and Dec have revealed there were more animal acts than ever before, with hopefuls determined to replicate the success of last year’s winners Ashley and Pudsey, the dancing dog and his owner who became overnight sensations.
No I won't! Simon tried to protest but after a lot of cajoling from David Walliams he eventually stepped up
He will! Cowell ha never appeared on the Britain's Got Talent stage before but 2013 will see him take part for the first time
Ta da! Simon was given special treatment after one act stripped for him on stage during the audition stages
He has already released his own ‘AutobiDOGgraphy’ and is even planning to begin filming his first movie later this year.
However, when asked which acts had proved the biggest disappointment during the audition stages of this year’s competition, Declan Donnelly said: ‘The animals this year. They haven’t lived up to Pudsey. We had a dancing raccoon that didn’t really dance. We also had a painting donkey that didn’t paint.’
Really? A dancing raccoon is amongst his year's bizarre acts trying to get Simon and the other judges' attention
The next Pudsey? Melody the Raccoon and
Kimberley hope to be the next big animal act on the show after the
success of winners Pudsey ad Ashleigh last year
Will it impress? A whole array of new hopefuls turned up to try and win the judges over during the audition stages
What an ass: Patty the Donkey arrived with
an entourage of fellow donkey supporters to cheer her on and as she took
to the stage the audience were expecting big things after they were
informed that Patty was a painting donkey
A painting donkey! The audience expected big things when they were told Patty could paint pictures
The audition shows were filmed in Cardiff, London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham, with 45 semi-finalists being chosen to go through to the live shows. Nine acts will then perform for the public vote on each of the five live programmes, with ten acts then going through to the final.
That's some talent! Jess the pole dancer showed off her moves as she twirled around her pole on stage
A taste: pictures have been released of some of the stand out contestants ahead of the return of Britain's Got Talent 2013
Lucky boy: Simon Cowell found himself getting
kissed by both Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon on Thursday at the
Britain's Got Talent launch in London
Making moves: Alesha made sure she gave Simon plenty of attention as she greeted him
What a flirt: Simon and Amanda embraced each other warmly as they hugged
At the launch of the show in central London yesterday, Cowell revealed that he had never voted in an election because he ‘couldn’t be bothered’.
Battle time: Judges Alesha Dixon and Amanda
Holden arrived at the Britain's Got Talent launch dressed stylishly on
Thursday, in London
‘She was divisive, but sometimes that’s what people with talent are like. I’ve never voted. Never. I support people, but never personally voted. I couldn’t be bothered.’
Back in the mix: Simon Cowell takes former fiancee Mezhgan Hussainy out on Thursday evening, alongside his ex-girlfriend Sinitta
Green eyed girls: Sinitta and Mezhgan linked arms as they wore co-ordinating outfits during their evening out with Cowell