With Simon Cowell staging yet another a shake-up of The X Factor this year, he’s also introducing a brand-new Britain’s Got Talent spin-off, titled BGT: The Champions.
Ahead of its debut on ITV later this month, here’s everything we can tell you about the all-star series... What is Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions?Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions was commissioned following the success of the similarly-named America’s Got Talent: The Champions in the States earlier this year.
The format of the show sees former BGT winners, finalists and participants return to compete alongside notable contestants from international versions to find the ultimate Got Talent star. When does Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions start?Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions was first teased by hosts Ant and Dec at the end of the last regular series of BGT in June.
Trailers have since begun airing on ITV promoting the show, which state it will air “this August”.
Reports have since claimed it will kick off on Saturday 31 August – however, ITV is yet to officially confirm a fixed air date.
The show was all filmed back in July at Wembley Arena, and unlike the usual semi-finals, there will not be any live shows. Who are the Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions judges?No surprises here – regular BGT panellists Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams are all back to judge the returning talent. Who is hosting Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions?After staging his return to TV earlier this year – following a period out of the spotlight to work on personal issues – Ant McPartlin will once again reunite with Dec Donnelly to host this special series of BGT. I love @antanddec pic.twitter.com/oWsAKhiRPb— David Walliams (@davidwalliams) July 28, 2019Who is competing on Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions?Given that the show has all been pre-recorded, many of the acts competing on the show have already leaked in the press.
Among those returning are most recent winner Colin Thackeray and the show’s first-ever champ Paul Potts. Series two winner George Sampson is also said to be back, along with series six winners Ashleigh and Pudsey – although due to Pudsey’s death last year, Ashleigh Butler now performs with a replacement dog called Sully.
Oft-forgotten 2011 winner Jai McDowell will also return, as will 2014 title-holders Collabro and 2018 winner Lost Voice Guy. Other acts include series one contestant Connie Talbot, dance duos Twist and Pulse and Stavros Flatley, child magician Issy Sampson and comic Jack Carroll.
Susan Boyle was originally meant to appear on the series after competing on AGT: The Champions earlier this year, but later pulled out, while 2009 champs Diversity have also confirmed they will not be taking part due to preparations for their latest tour.
Among the international acts said to be appearing include Neighbours actress Bonnie Anderson, who found fame on the
Australian version of the show as a child singer, and America’s Got Talent winner ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, who is actually British. Who won Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions?Pre-recording the competition has come at a serious price for ITV, as the winner of the series has leaked online.
This was somewhat inevitable given the show was recorded in front of thousands at Wembley Arena, but bosses are still said to be “furious” at the leak.
HuffPost has chosen not to reveal their identity, but a quick
Twitter search will, should you wish to spoil the series for yourself.READ MORE... Australia’s Got Talent Contestant Paints With His Penis And Nicole Scherzinger’s Reaction Is All Of Us Britain's Got Talent Cleared By Ofcom After Complaints Over Amanda Holden F-Bomb Amanda Holden Redefines ‘Oversharing’ With Drunken ‘Poo’ Revelation