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$1M prize on the line as 91ƵCanada91Ƶs Got Talent91Ƶ set to launch new season

Cash prize billed as the largest in Canadian television history
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The hosts of 91ƵCanada91Ƶs Got Talent91Ƶ pose for an undated handout photo. From left to right, Howie Mandel, Lilly Singh, Lindsay Ell, Trish Stratus and Kardinal Offishall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CityTV, Jag Gundu

Canada91Ƶs most high-profile talent show is returning for another season, and this time the stakes are even higher.

Citytv91Ƶs 91ƵCanada91Ƶs Got Talent91Ƶ has increased its top prize to $1 million, and one of its celebrity judges says that will be life-changing money for the lucky winner.

Comedian, actress and writer Lilly Singh says the million-dollar season puts a lot of pressure not just on the contestants, but also on the judges who will scrutinize more than 100 musical, dance, comedy and novelty acts.

The bumped-up award from Citytv91Ƶs parent company Rogers is billed as the biggest cash prize in Canadian television history.

The third season of the show, which kicks off Tuesday, will also award $25,000 each to six Golden Buzzer acts, or entertainers deemed good enough to progress from auditions straight to the semifinal.

The top prize is now much higher than the $150,000 awarded at the end of Season 2 to a dance troupe from Quebec.

91ƵI mean this is truly life changing money,91Ƶ Singh said in an interview last fall, as she and the other judges 91Ƶ Howie Mandel, Trish Stratus and Kardinal Offishall 91Ƶ prepared to film audition episodes in Niagara Falls, Ont.

91ƵSomeone91Ƶs life trajectory could change and so the stakes are really high on both sides,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵWe really are feeling the nerves.91Ƶ

This season91Ƶs contestants hail from across the country, and they will try to dazzle the judges with their voices, dance moves and magic tricks, among other talents.

Aside from the massive top prize, another thing that will be different this season is the show91Ƶs use of Bollywood music.

Singh said one of the reasons why it was difficult to get South Asian acts on stage in previous seasons of 91ƵCanada91Ƶs Got Talent91Ƶ were the barriers to clearing Bollywood songs for use on the show.

She said she used her contacts at a major Indian music label to resolve a song clearance issue that surfaced in preparation for the show91Ƶs new season, opening the path toward an overall deal to ensure that Bollywood music can be used on 91ƵCanada91Ƶs Got Talent.91Ƶ

91ƵWhich is important because naturally if you can91Ƶt use the music that91Ƶs part of your culture, you91Ƶre at a disadvantage,91Ƶ Singh said. 91ƵAnyone that91Ƶs been following me knows that representation really means a lot to me.91Ƶ

The first episode of the new season, hosted by Lindsay Ell, airs Tuesday night on Citytv and will also stream on Citytv Plus. The talent competition will culminate in a two-hour finale on May 14.

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