Ensnared escapologists, bejewelled animals and giggling judges. Prepare to be entertained as Britain's Got Talent returns for a second series.

Simon Cowell and his cohorts, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, have scoured the country in search of the nation's hidden talents - and it looks like most of their finds will have viewers crying with laughter.

Last year, amateur opera singer and Carphone Warehouse manager, Paul Potts, became a household name with his haunting version of Nessun Dorma. He beat little Connie Talbot in the final for a spot at the Royal Variety Performance and has gone on to top the charts and tour America.

Now the pressure's on to find another equally talented individual - but it seems the judges didn't get off to a good start.

"Simon Cowell was in a right grump after our first round of auditions in Blackpool," reveals actress Amanda, who launched her stage career and met and married former husband, comedian Les Dennis, in Bournemouth.

"I've never seen him so moody... It took us longer to find talent this year and we had to look harder but I can confidently say I think we've upped the standard level - we did have to look in the dark corners of Great Britain to get there though!"

The auditions will be shown on Saturday nights, with a week of nightly live shows towards the end of May, all with Ant and Dec at the helm.

Viewers will ultimately become the "fourth judge", voting for their favourites, despite what the panel think.

While the judges may argue about which acts they like, they are unanimous when it comes to choosing the least talented city.

"Blackpool, by quite a way!" reveals former tabloid editor Piers, 43.

"I thought we'd stumbled onto the set of Nightmare On Elm Street by the end of the first session. We were expecting big things from the home of British variety, but it wasn't so much end-of-the-pier stuff as chuck them off the end of the pier' stuff."

"I'm thrilled to say Britain is still deluded and I love it!" adds Amanda. "The worst audition had to be the escapologist in Blackpool that couldn't get out of his sack.

"We kept it going for longer and longer as we weren't sure if it was part of the act - in the end Ant & Dec had to come on and rescue him!"

Among all the dross, the judges believe they have found a handful of gems who could well go all the way.

"It would be great to see something unusual win - a juggler, magician or animal act. And we have a lot of those variety types in the semi-finals," reveals Piers.

"But whereas Paul seemed the obvious favourite for most of the first series, I think the field is wide open this time."

Like all good TV talent shows, it's the tension and rivalry between the judges that sometimes makes for the best viewing, and this year looks set to be no different.

"We've had a fantastic time - mostly," says music mogul Simon. "Piers's ego has become ever more inflated and this year he's taken it upon himself to crusade for some completely bizarre acts."

"If we were all married it would be the perfect marriage," adds Amanda. "Simon is great as the prankster and being the clever wise one while Piers is a breath of fresh air and never stops talking." she laughs.

All three assert that the show wouldn't be the same without its hosts-with-the-most, Ant and Dec.

"They are the best live performers I've worked with, it's as simple as that," says Piers. "Nothing flaps them, and they are always in control."

"They are the unsung heroes of the show," adds Amanda. "They deal with the fall-out of the actual auditions on the stage. Once the tears start rolling Ant and Dec are there to look after them."

The second series of Britain's Got Talent starts on Saturday April 12 on ITV1.