Britain’s Got Talent co-host Declan Donnelly ended up working as an interpreter when Simon Cowell got confused by one contestant’s Geordie accent.

Dec, who co-hosts the show with Ant McPartlin, said: “There was a bit of the act’s explanations that were getting lost in translation so I had to come out and act as his interpreter. I think I did quite a good job, I think Simon was pleased in the end. However, I don’t think he was the winner.”

Ant and Dec.
(Syco/Thames TV/PA)

Ant said the pair were still “constantly surprised” by the variety of acts who entered the ITV talent show in a bid to find fame and appear on stage in front of the Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance.

He said: “We have got a dog that hypnotises people, a little girl who does martial arts and went on stage with a samurai sword – not the kind of things you see every day.

“I think the talking dog is definitely one to watch. There’s a young opera singer who went down really well, so she’s one to look out for too.”