Alesha Dixon set to be 'gobby' in BGT role

Alesha Dixon has promised she will be a 'gobby' addition to the Britain's Got Talent judging panel as auditions for the new series got underway in Manchester.

The former Strictly judge - who brought a splash of colour to auditions in a canary yellow dress - said that she had joined the show for a "new challenge".

"I wanted to get involved in a show that would find a new star," she said. I just want somebody, whether singing, dancing, juggling, acrobatics, comedy, it doesn't matter, as long as it evokes some kind of emotion and the whole country gets behind them."

"We can find a real star that hopefully will translate abroad as well, all around the world, not just in the UK," Alesha added. "That's the beauty of this show - the unknown."

However the singer - who is reportedly being paid £350,000 for her BGT role - denied that she had been lured away from Strictly by the money.

"Money has never been a factor. If it was I’d have done so many crazy things over the years," she said.

"I make decisions on what feels right and what excites me. I was going to leave Strictly anyway. Three years was respectable. It was time to move on."

Fellow judges Amanda Holden, newcomer David Walliams and Simon Cowell also made their presence known at the auditions.

Amanda said they were looking for a "galactic act" to win the 2012 series - following stories that the winner will have the chance to perform on Richard Branson's Virgin space flight - while David added, "I am just going to be myself and hopefully I will be funny at some points."