Britain’s Got Talent 2021 is SCRAPPED as COVID-19 lockdown scuppers plans for nationwide auditions… but bosses hope series will return in the autumn
- Sources claim ITV bosses have delayed this year’s series as auditions cannot take place due to the current lockdown
- Bosses are reportedly hopeful the show will return if vaccinations go to plan
- BGT usually films its auditions in January and February, but bosses reportedly decided it would be impossible to film without a live audience
- Last year’s live shows were delayed by three months due to the pandemic, and eventually took place with social distancing and a virtual audience
Britain’s Got Talent 2021 has been scrapped until the autumn as COVID-19 lockdown scuppered plans for nationwide auditions.
In a statement, ITV said they’re hopeful the show will return later this year, but have delayed plans to start auditions later this month due to government restrictions.
They said: ‘The filming for the 15th series of Britain’s Got Talent has been postponed from its proposed record dates in late January.
On hold: Britain’s Got Talent 2021 has reportedly been scrapped until the autumn as COVID-19 lockdown scuppered plans for nationwide auditions
‘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.
‘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.
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.
ITV bosses now face the challenge of replacing BGT in the TV schedule, with the show usually airing sometime in April after auditions are filmed in January and February.
This series was also set to mark the return of Simon Cowell to the judging panel, as he was forced to miss last year’s live shows after breaking his back in a bike accident.
Not yet! This series was also set to mark the return of Simon Cowell to the judging panel, as he was forced to miss last year’s live shows after breaking his back in a bike accident
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 Banjo was drafted in to replace Simon 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.