Britain’s Got Talent is said to be planning to shake things up with a ‘major change’ to the final set of auditions next year.
The 2025 series is expected to launch early next year, and will consist of the usual run of eight audition episodes, five semi-finals and a live final; with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon… and a temporary judge in rapper and boxer KSI on the panel.
But when the show airs its audition episodes, it will do so with a big change to tradition – and location.
The long-running ITV talent competition was scheduled to host its final set of auditions in the London Palladium when it resumed filming next year.
However, in a reported U-turn, a BGT insider has claimed that the show is now set to relocate to Blackpool for the remaining auditions.
Boss and head judge Simon is said to have given the thumbs up to the plan after being impressed by the ‘electric’ atmosphere in this year’s Blackpool auditions.
An insider told The Sun: ‘BGT is a show that hangs on the audience and how they react — and basically the crowd in Blackpool is absolutely brilliant.
‘The Palladium is such an iconic venue but if you compare the shows in Blackpool to the ones they have filmed in London, the audience is way more up for it there.
‘The auditions resume in the new year and they’ll all be filmed up in Blackpool.’
The tabloid’s source continued: ‘Boss Simon Cowell has given the green light to the move and just wants the show to be the best it can be.’
But, if true, the planned move could be a source of discord for judge Amanda.
‘Fellow judge Amanda Holden might not be too impressed though, given she works in London five days a week and the trek to Blackpool is long,’ the insider continued.
‘Fans will be emailed about the changes soon and BGT bosses think it is for the best.’
Auditions already kicked off in Blackpool last month, with rapper, YouTuber and energy drink magnate KSI temporarily stepping in for Buno Tonioli, who is busy filming Dancing With the Stars in the US.
And this new face has already been a source of absolute mayhem behind the scenes, if Metro‘s insider is to be believed.
‘There’s been kids hysterically crying, parents doing whatever they can to get their kid down to the judges’ seats,’ a source said.
‘He can’t even go to the loo during filming without the audience running to try and get photos.’
Appearing on Amanda’s Heart breakfast show, KSI teased he might be a BGT ‘villain,’ saying: ‘Everyone thinks I’m going to be an evil judge; I’m going to be a villain – I’m going to just press the red button as soon as they walk out.
‘I might do that every now and then, but I’m just going to have fun with it and we’ll just see what happens,’ he shared.
Britain’s Got Talent returns to ITV1 and ITVX in 2025.
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