This Morning's Dermot O'Leary defends over Bruno Tonioli's 'nasty' comment

Simon Cowell and Bruno Toniolo were discussing the live semi-finals for Britain's Got Talent

This Morning host Dermot O'Leary defended himself and Alison Hammond as Bruno Tonioli made a remark over "nasty" comments.

During Friday's (25th April) instalment, hosts Dermot and Alison welcomed Britain's Got Talent judges Simon Cowell and Bruno Tonioli to the sofa to chat about the new series.

ITV's hit talent show is gearing up for the first of the live semi-finals taking place this weekend which will see eight acts hoping to make it to the final.

Dino rock band Heavysaurus, magician Teddy Magic, singer Vinnie McKee, dance group The Blackouts, variety act Akira, sword swallower Auzzy Blood, singer Linda Mudzenda and magician Eden Choi will all be competing to win a spot in the final this weekend.

There's another twist in store for the viewers, as for the first time ever the show will introduce a golden buzzer into the semi-finals.

It will be a complete surprise to everyone else, but one judge or Ant and Dec will get a golden buzzer every weekend. They can press the buzzer for their favourite act, sending them straight through to the final.

There was some controversy after the final audition saw Max Fox, an audience member, ask Simon Cowell if he could audition after trying to sing in front of him for 19 years.

Convinced it was a set up, viewers thought that Simon knew all along that he was in the audience. However, Simon cleared things up as he said: "On my life, I swear that was not a set up. I honestly thought, ok, somebody's put him there. I said to the producers 'come on, this is a set up right?' they went 'no'.

"I just thought we'd never show it, he wanted to sing in front of me so I just let him do it. Why not? I was laughing so much when the golden buzzer went off. I went 'nobody's gonna believe this!'."

Dermot added: "Having done so many of those auditions, we'd never be that organised enough to do that. Those days are carnage aren't they?"

Simon shared that he'd be happy to do a lie detector test on live television to prove that he's telling the truth. Alison joked saying they have one ready and waiting for the star.

Bruno interjected and said: "Why do you always have to go for the nasty? It is not set up my darling!" to Alison. Simon was quick to put things right as he replied: "They're not being nasty, no, I get it."

Dermot then continued to defend his co-star as he shook his head and said: "We're not being nasty", before Simon joked that the show "isn't that smart" to set things up, leading Bruno to laugh.