Cowell said:'I was a fan of variety shows Opportunity Knocks and New Faces, and to be able to update that tradition, really was a buzz'. Both shows showcased singers, dancers and comedians, as well as performers such as acrobats, animal acts and novelty acts. The format's origins can be traced to the British talent shows Opportunity Knocks (on-screen from the 1950s, with the winner using the now-standard method of a telephone vote) and New Faces. Got Talent was conceived in 2005 by Simon Cowell, creator and judge on The X Factor. We owe its success to a group of very talented producers all over the world who have made this happen. Cowell said: 'I am very proud that Got Talent is a homegrown British show. In April 2014, the format was named the world's most successful reality TV format ever by Guinness World Records. Unlike those shows, Got Talent (influenced by the variety of talent shows Opportunity Knocks and New Faces) showcases other artistic disciplines as well as singers. It has spawned spin-offs in over 69 countries, in what is now referred to as the 'Got Talent' format, similar to that described by Fremantle of the Idol and The X Factor formats. Got Talent is a British talent show TV format conceived and owned by Simon Cowell's SYCOtv company.
