Britain's Got Talent 'almost certain to be scrapped entirely in 2021'
Britain’s Got Talent ‘almost certain to be scrapped entirely this year and may not be aired until 2022 due to Covid restrictions’
- It was announced earlier this month that the popular ITV show would be postponed to later in the year, amid the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown
- However, Thames TV and Simon Cowell’s company Syco are said to have come to the conclusion that it may not be possible to make the show safely in 2021
- It’s said that chances of the show being made this year were ‘extremely slim to non-existent’ due to Covid restrictions, and may well be pushed back to 2022
- It’s now been said that ITV bosses are drawing up TV schedules for the next year and they don’t include Britain’s Got Talent
- A major issue with keeping safe during filming is the need for a live audience, with the crowd’s live reaction being a key part of the entertainment
Britain’s Got Talent could reportedly be scrapped entirely this year and may not to return to screens until 2022.
It was announced earlier this month that the popular ITV show would be postponed to later in the year, amid the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown.
However, Thames TV and Simon Cowell’s company Syco are said to have come to the conclusion that it may not be possible to make the programme safely in 2021 due to covid-19 restrictions.
Postponed again? Britain’s Got Talent could reportedly be scrapped entirely this year and may not to return to screens until 2022
The variety show had been due to hold auditions to hold auditions over the summer, with the highly-anticipated live shows to air in the autumn.
However, it’s said that chances of the show being made this year were ‘extremely slim to non-existent’, and may well be pushed back to 2022.
A source told MailOnline: ‘The nature of Britain’s Got Talent means we have all sorts of contestants from all sorts of places – home and abroad – taking part.
‘While many people will have been vaccinated by the summer it remains unclear what the restrictions on mass mingling and on travel will be, so there are absolutely no guarantees production can go ahead.
Shock: Thames TV and Simon Cowell’s company Syco are said to have come to the conclusion that it may not be possible to make the programme safely in 2021 due to covid-19 restrictions
‘The chances of it airing this year range from extremely slim to non-existent – and it’s almost certain to be the latter. No one’s happy about it – but that’s the way it is.’
Meanwhile, a source to The Sun: ‘Nothing can be ruled out just yet, but it’s not looking good. It’s almost certain to be binned.’
MailOnline have contacted representatives of Britain’s Got Talent and Syco for comment.
It’s now been said that ITV bosses are drawing up TV schedules for the next year and they don’t include Britain’s Got Talent – ITV’s biggest show only second to I’m A Celebrity, attracting 10 millions viewers.
The show mustn’t go on: ‘The chances of it airing this year range from extremely slim to non-existent – and it’s almost certain to be the latter. No one’s happy about it – but that’s the way it is’
A major issue with keeping safe during filming is the need for a live audience, with the crowd’s live reaction to a performance being a key part of the entertainment.
The 2021 series was set to mark the return of Simon Cowell, 61, to the judging panel, as he was forced to miss last year’s live shows after breaking his back in a bike accident.
If the series doesn’t go ahead until 2022, it means that Simon would have been absent from UK screens for two years.
The latest postponement news comes just weeks after ITV announced the show had been delayed until the autumn as COVID-19 lockdown scuppered plans for nationwide auditions.
In a statement at the time, ITV said they were hopeful the show will return later this year, but have delayed plans to start auditions later this month due to government restrictions.
Talent: The variety show had been due to hold auditions to hold auditions over the summer, with the highly-anticipated live shows to air in the autumn
Crowd pleaser: A major issue with keeping safe during filming is the need for a live audience, with the audience’s live reaction to a performance being a key part of the entertainment
They said: ‘The filming for the 15th series of Britain’s Got Talent has been postponed from its proposed record dates in late January.
‘With the announcement of the latest Government health guidelines and with our priority of safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in our programmes we, together with the production teams at Thames and Syco, have taken the decision to move the record and broadcast of the forthcoming series.
They added in the statement: ‘We will confirm revised dates in due course.’
It had been reported that bosses decided to delay auditions as they would be unable to film auditions with a live audience during current restrictions.
Not this year: It’s now been said that ITV bosses are drawing up TV schedules for the next year and they don’t include Britain’s Got Talent – ITV’s biggest show only second to I’m A Celebrity, attracting 10 millions viewers
Sources also claimed that a vast production, with acts travelling from across the world to take part, wasn’t viable even though other TV productions have continued.
The delay comes just days after a source told MailOnline that BGT bosses had already settled on a UK location to film the auditions, following claims they were considering filming at different locations across the globe.
The source said at the time: ‘The auditions are currently planned for a venue at the end of January/early February.
‘Obviously if that’s not feasible safety-wise, producers will look at other options and contingencies.’
Right decision: Amanda Holden said that not having a live audience on Britain’s Got Talent ‘makes no sense’, after the 2021 series was postponed over COVID-19 lockdown
Speaking about the decision on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston earlier this month, the radio presenter, 49, said having the public there during auditions was necessary as it ‘affects the quality of the show’ because they’re ‘the fifth judge’.
She explained: ‘We were due to start filming on the 18th of January and then it was pushed to the 28th and then we got the call yesterday before the press release just saying, look I think out of every show on television Britain’s Got Talent needs the audience.
‘We need you guys, because we call them the fifth judge and it just makes no sense not to have them behind us.’
They’re needed: Amanda (pictured on the show last year) said having the public there during auditions was necessary as it ‘affects the quality of the show’ because they’re ‘the fifth judge’
Thoughts: Amanda said, ‘I think out of every show on television Britain’s Got Talent needs the audience… we call them the fifth judge and it just makes no sense not to have them behind us’
Amanda said she was happy with the decision to delay the show, as she went on to say she ‘would rather wait’ until it’s safe to have the show with an audience.
She said: ‘I think it affects the show and it affects the quality of the show and with the biggest will in the world – because there’s so much hard work backstage and everyone’s really done a huge effort to make it the best show it can be – it still affects it, so I would rather wait and make it the best it can be and put it on in the Autumn.’
Discussing head judge Simon Cowell’s return, she added: ‘I’ll miss Simon though. It will be nearly two years since I’ve actually touched him!’
Meanwhile, Alesha Dixon also reflected on the decision, saying that while it wasn’t ‘an ideal situation’ the priority for show bosses was the well-being of their staff and audience.
Candid: Alesha Dixon said that BGT’s 2021 series being postponed is ‘not ideal’ but the well-being of staff and the audience is their priority
Speaking during an appearance on Steph’s Packed Lunch this month, she explained: ‘It’s obviously not an ideal situation, but the most important thing is the well-being of everyone who works on the show, and the public who come along to the show.
‘And we want to make the show the best it can possibly be, so if that means pushing it back and waiting a little bit, then you know that’s what we have to do.’
Last year BGT was thrown into chaos by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the live shows delayed from May to September and aired in front of a virtual audience to ensure it was adhered to COVID-19 restrictions.
Some contestants were also unable to perform live in the semi-finals due to travel concerns, and Ashley took Simon’s place on the judging panel.
The auditions were able to air as planned in April as they were filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The series concluded with singer Jon Courtenay crowned champion.
Pushed back: Last year BGT was thrown into chaos by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the live shows delayed from May to September
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