Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell has reportedly dropped out of filming the show’s upcoming Series 20 auditions as he continues to recover from back surgery. He will be replaced on the panel by a guest judge.
Simon Cowell Drops Out of Britain’s Got Talent
Simon Cowell has recently missed several live episodes of America’s Got Talent as he underwent back surgery. Recovery from the operation will apparently take long enough that Cowell has now reportedly dropped out of filming auditions for BGT Series 20.
Auditions for the new season are scheduled to begin filming in Blackpool next month, with Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI returning to the judges’ table. According to The Sun, the show’s production company Fremantle is looking for a male comedian to take Cowell’s place at the table.
“Simon is of course gutted to be missing the auditions, but it’s important that he rests up now so he can make a full recovery,” a source told the outlet. “It was a routine op that went well and he knows the team will find a fun guest judge to spice up filming and keep the audience on their toes.”
Producers have reportedly moved half of the show’s filming schedule to January so that Cowell can hopefully appear as a judge after he’s recovered. The new season is expected to premiere next spring.
Cowell has also been absent for the Season 21 live shows on America’s Got Talent. Some episodes have featured only three judges (Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Sofia Vergara) on the panel, while guest judges Kenan Thompson and Heidi Klum have sat in for Cowell on other nights.
Following the news that Cowell will reportedly sit out filming for BGT next month, it’s likely that he also won’t be back on the panel for this week’s two-night AGT finale. The winner of this season will be determined entirely by votes from viewers at home.
What do you think about the news that Simon Cowell will be missing auditions for the new season of BGT? Who would you like to see replace him on the panel? Let us know in the comments below.
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Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
