The country is in a state of depression because we are facing our worse financial crisis in decades. And listening to the news doesn't help because it's all doom and gloom with stabbings and murders two a penny.

As a nation we appear to have lost our confidence and self-belief. What we need is something affirmative to build it back up again and give us something to smile about.

Step forward Simon Cowell and his latest show Britain's Got Talent. The variety talent show – in effect Opportunity Knocks rejigged for the post-Pop Idol generation – has been running every night this week earning very healthy ratings.

My fella, who refuses to watch it, can't understand why anyone wants to tune in. But I can.

For starters it's got a confidence-building title and it's full of inspiring narratives about people seizing the day and lifting themselves out of the ordinary.

Yes, they might be eccentrics and make you cringe now and then, but you've got to admire their talent, courage and determination. And wouldn't you rather be surrounded by them than by a load of moaners going on about the weather and the rising price of food and petrol.

Britain's Got Talent has this week offered an escape route for all of us.

As well as a good laugh it has given us hope, and shown us we are a nation of winners not losers and all is not lost.

I have to say though that it does highlight one defect we have as a country – how terribly we treat the elderly.

There have been a few older finalists around but we don't vote for them.

Instead, we warm to those small enough to make the hosts, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, look like giants.

And if they have got a sob story all the better.

We want the underdog to win. It's all part of our great bulldog spirit.