This Saturday on ITV1, Amanda Holden will look back through the years to tell the story of the talent show from its humble beginnings on television, right through to the current show-stopping versions of today.

Amanda will look back at all the classic talent shows, picking out footage not seen on TV for years while also meeting the winners that simply disappeared into oblivion.

Footage will show how we were first introduced to Victoria Wood, Lenny Henry, Jim Davidson, Les Dennis, Marti Caine, Cannon & Ball, Little & Large, Will Young, Girls Aloud and many more over the years.

Amanda takes Joe Pasquale back to Birmingham’s Hippodrome theatre where he first won New Faces back in the 80s, reunites members of one of Britain’s first manufactured boy bands, Our Kid, and talks to Paul Potts about his amazing experiences since winning Britain’s Got Talent.

Simon Cowell, Joe Pasquale, Louis Walsh, Piers Morgan, Debra Stephenson, Roy Walker and Bonnie Langford all share their memories of Opportunity Knocks, New Faces and today’s current talent shows including Pop Idol, X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.

Simon Cowell on Opportunity Knocks:
“You couldn’t make that kind of show today, I think some good people came from it though.”

Piers Morgan on Girls Aloud’s success:
“To me it all came down to one thing – Cheryl Tweedy’s legs.”

Simon Cowell on today’s talent shows:
“Every year you go into these shows and hope, hope for that Leona moment.”

Danny from Hear’Say:
“I’d recommend doing a TV talent show to anyone, my main ambition in life was to perform on Top of the Pops and get a Number one – I did both.”

Simon Cowell on Britain’s eccentric humour:
“Britain is an eccentric country thank god and thus we like acts like singing dogs!”