Serial prankster Simon Brodkin accuses Britain’s Got Talent of ‘manipulating auditions’ as he shares secret inside footage
Simon, known for his character Lee Nelson, makes the claims about the ITV talent show in a new Channel 4 documentary
A SERIAL prankster has claimed producers of Britain's Got talent 'manipulate' contestants after he secretly filmed himself auditioning for the ITV talent show last year.
Simon Brodkin, known for his comedy characters Lee Nelson and Jason Bent, dressed up as an Orthodox Jewish rapper when he auditioned for the show in January 2016.
He secretly recorded his eight hour audition process as part of a new documentary for Channel 4 called Britain's Greatest Hoaxer.
Simon appeared on the show as rapper Steven Goldblatt and made it through to audition for judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Walliams.
Despite winning four 'Yes' votes from the judges, Simon has claimed producers coach contestants about what to say backstage and film fake scenes to 'create a narrative'.
Speaking to the , he said: "This show sets itself up as a pure, simple, innocent talent show. I don’t think it’s that. It is contrived, manipulative and you don’t need to have talent.
“Shortly before I went in front of the judges I was advised what to say and how to present my act.
“A lot is recreated and manipulated. My arrival, registration and leaving were all staged.
"I was given direction as to how to act and they reshot each stage several times.
“Once backstage they asked me to look nervous, happy, frustrated, excited etc, filming as many emotions as possible so they have the building blocks to build their own narrative.”
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However, a spokesperson for Britain's Got Talent told The Sun Online: "It is not unusual for Britain's Got Talent to work with acts to ensure their performances are suitable for family viewing.
"On this occasion Simon Brodkin auditioned with a rap containing material we were concerned may cause offence.
"We subsequently found out that Simon Brodkin is a 'comedian' and hoaxer who promotes his act by deceiving people. It is untrue to suggest that Britain's Got Talent manipulated Simon's act."
The documentary shows Simon - dressed as Steven - as he travels to Manchester for the initial audition with producers.
He said: “No suggestions were made on the day but four days afterwards I received a call from an associate producer who told me they liked my act but the rap I auditioned with was not right for the show.
“They asked me for a new song, guiding me on what would work better for BGT.”
After completing a 13-page questionnaire about himself, he was later called called by producers which he claims was "to mine even more personal information and potential back stories".
Simon recorded the process by hiding a camera in his beatbox stereo.
The Channel 4 show then sees him undergoing an extensive make-over with prosthetic and make-up for the audition with the judges in London.
Before he performs in front of Simon and co, BGT recorded backstage footage shows him filming scenes of celebration before he even gets through.
He said: “I was taken to a separate shooting space where they got me to dance and then celebrate. The producers directed my dancing, asking me to spin, wave my flag around and be more energetic; egging me on throughout.”
Simon then said he thinks contestants are "coached" before going on stage.
He said: "During TV interviews the production team coached me on several answers, getting me to rephrase them according to their suggestions.”
During his audition, Steven told the judges about how he cared for his dad after his mum died before rapping the son Red, White and Blue which garnered him four yes votes.
Simon Cowell told him: “That was great Steven, it makes you feel proud to be British, it could be like the new National Anthem. I wouldn’t have imagined, Steven, that coming from you.
“You are a quiet little thing. But then when the song started, you turned into like 50 Cent.”
However, an executive producer then realised who he was and stopped him from going through to the live shows.
Some of Brodkin's most famous pranks include renaming Sir Philip Green's £100million super yacht the 'BHS Destroyer' and showering Fifa president Sepp Blatter in fake US dollars at a press conference in Zurich.
He also managed to blag his way on stage at Glastonbury when Kanye West was performing in 2015.
Britain’s Greatest Hoaxer airs on Channel 4 tomorrow at 10pm.
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