Britain's Got Talent auditions: Hundreds of hopefuls descend on Birmingham - in pictures

The Birmingham Hippodrome event this afternoon saw crowds huddle around a red carpet outside the theatre, eagerly awaiting celebrity judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.

First on the red carpet was presenter Stephen Mulhern, who turned up driving a child's toy car.

He was soon followed by Amanda Holden, with a short blonde bob and wearing a ruched black dress.

David Walliams followed minutes later, donning a black suit, before Alesha Dixon smiled for the cameras in a sleek shoulderless black dress.

Then it was the turn of Ant and Dec to laugh their way along the red carpet before main man Simon Cowell rocked up in trademark jeans and sunglasses.