'Britain’s Got Talent' returns tonight

The search for the next Susan Boyle begins tonight, as performing dogs, prodigious children and downright strange acts take the stage as Britain’s Got Talent returns for a fourth series.

Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden head the judging panel once more to trawl through the country’s wannabe variety acts.

At stake will be a chance to win £100,000 (€113,814) and perform in front of the Queen at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

However, the decision will ultimately be up to the viewers, who will get to vote for their favourite acts once the pre-recorded auditions have been broadcast.

Among the frontrunners so far this year is Chloe Hickinbottom who wowed the judges with her version of Vera Lynn’s 'White Cliffs Of Dover', winning a place in the second round of the series.

Also among the hopefuls are a troupe of naked balloon dancers, a wannabe who burps songs and an ex-footballer turned dancer.

'X-Factor' judge Louis Walsh makes an appearance this series, replacing Cowell at the Birmingham auditions while he was unwell.

Cowell has previously revealed he wants an animal rather than a human act to triumph this time on the show which turned singers Susan Boyle and Paul Potts into stars.

“I want to find the next Lassie. I would like a talented dog act to win,” he said.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are also returning to the programme, to impart sympathy to the contestants from the sides of the stage.

The ITV show, which has also previously discovered breakdancer George Sampson, last year gave us dance troupe Diversity and the global phenomenon that is Boyle.

The Scottish singer made headlines across the globe with her surprising performance of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from the musical 'Les Miserables', capturing hearts in both the UK and the US before releasing her massively successful debut album.

The fourth series of 'Britain’s Got Talent' starts tonight at 8pm on ITV1, followed by 'Britain’s Got More Talent' on ITV2.