Britain's Got Talent Season 8 judges

Simon Cowell’s Got Talent TV show has today been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's most successful reality TV format after being commissioned in an incredible 58 territories worldwide.

Co-owned by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment, the entertainment show has versions across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle-East, Africa and the Americas.

Most recently, the format has launched in Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan 1), Brazil (Rede Record), Moldova (Channel Prime TV) and Iceland (Channel 2). In total, 59 versions of Got Talent are broadcast in 58 countries (with two versions in Belgium) .

Commenting on today’s news, Simon Cowell said, "I am very proud that Got Talent is a home grown British show. We owe its success to a group of very talented producers all over the world who have made this happen. And of course amazing talent."

The show has been the springboard for countless new acts around the world, including Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent, who has gone on to sell over 20 million records worldwide; nine-year-old singer Amira Willighagen for Holland's Got Talent, who’s winning performance of Puccini's ‘Nessun Dorma’ received more than 50% of the television viewers' vote, and 10-year-old classical singer Jackie Evancho from America’s Got Talent.

Elsewhere, SIMA, a Syrian dancing troupe for Arabs Got Talent; circus artist, Simon Heulle for Got Talent France; Tetiana Galitsyna, an artist who used painting with sand to tell a story for Poland’s Got Talent; and Nikita Izmailov, a contact juggler, crystal ball dancer and illusionist for Russia’s Got Talent, all got their big breaks on various versions ofthe show.

The initial audition for singing sensation Paul Potts, Britain’s Got Talent’s first winner, has had over 121 million views on YouTube and his story was made into a major motion picture, One Chance.

Britain’s Got Talent, the UK’s number one entertainment show of the last decade, has notched up eight hit seasons, while America’s Got Talent, the longest running local version of the format, is in its ninth season, with the last series attracting peak audiences of more than 11 million viewers, the series has maintained the position of the #1 summer reality show in the US for eight years.

Fremantle Media -and -Syco -Entertainment

Rob Molloy (left) of Guinness World Records presents Diana Buddingh, Director of Global Entertainment Production, FremantleMedia and George Levendis, Head of International Production, Syco Entertainment with an official Guinness World Records certificate

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia said: “We are immensely proud of the ever successful Got Talent and are delighted to add a prestigious GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title to its list of achievements. Got Talent has become a global phenomenon that has transcended cultures and excited audiences from all corners of the globe. We look forward to working with Syco Entertainment in continuing to make this brand an absolute triumph.”

Alistair Richards, President of Guinness World Records, said, “We are delighted to confirm that Got Talent has broken the previous world record and is now the official Guinness World Records title holder for the Most successful reality television format, a landmark moment in television record breaking history, congratulations!”