It has come to light that Britain's Got Talent could be scrapped this year after ITV bosses revealed that Covid had made the axing "almost certain."
Speaking about the potential of a 2021 series, BGT judge Amanda Holden said that the show needs an audience, a requirement that might not be possible with certain coronavirus restrictions.
"We call them [the audience] the fifth judge and it just makes no sense not to have them behind us," she said.
CHECK OUT: Britain's Got Talent child stars - then and now
Britain's Got Talent child stars: Then and now SLIDER with cover pic
BGT
Aidan Davis
Aidan appeared on the talent show in 2009 when he was just 11 years old, and he has grown into quite the handsome young man now, hasn't he?Aidan appeared on the talent show in 2009 when he was just 11 years old, and he has grown into quite the handsome young man now, hasn't he?During his audition, Simon Cowell told him: "I think you're better than any dancer I have ever seen. I think you are super, super, super talented."Aidan is now 19, still dancing and rapping and is a black belt in karate.His Facebook page says he writes all of his own lyrics, and is in the studio working on new material.Check out his Instagram (@aiidandavis) for more pictures...
Hollie Steel
Hollie sparked a debate when she appeared on the show in series three in 2009 at the age of 10 about whether there should be a lower age limit for auditionees.She made it through to the final of the season and finished in sixth place but during her semi-final performance forgot the words to her song and burst into tears live on television.The singer was comforted by judge Amanda Holden and boss Simon Cowell demanded producers find time for her to have a second try on the night.After the show she toured with Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of Sound of Music with Jason Donovan and in 2010 released a self-titled album through her own record label BB5 Records Limited.These days she shares videos of herself singing on YouTube where she has more than 30,000 subscribers.
Ronan Parke
Singer Ronan auditioned for the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent and found himself embroiled in an online smear campaign when an anonymous blogger claimed he had been groomed by Simon Cowell to appear on the show for two years beforehand.The allegations were proven to be untrue and Mr Cowell signed him up to release a self-titled album of covers, and single A Thousand Miles.He was later dropped from Simon's record label and is now working with Rosen Music Group on new music.His website states: "Ronan has so many exciting things coming up."
George Sampson
George impressed viewers with his dancing when he body-popped his way across the stage in the second series.He went on to win the show and was signed up for some big money sponsorship and advertising deals.George released single Get On Up On The Dance Floor/Headz Up and has appeared in dance stage shows such as Into The Hoods.He had a cameo role in film StreetDance 3D and moved into acting with a recurring role in BBC soap Waterloo Road, and also appeared in Casualty.In 2016 he appeared in four episodes of Emmerdale as part of character Aaron Livesy's child abuse storyline.
Connie Talbot
Connie went on to become a huge success after auditioning for the very first series of Britain's Got Talent despite never having had a singing lesson in her life.She released her debut album Over The Rainbow in 2007 and went on to release a Christmas record, Holiday Magic.In 2014 she released an EP, Gravity, and a DVD of her Beautiful World tour went on sale in 2015.In 2016 the singer released her seventh album, Matters To Me, and a single, Shut Up (Move On).
Jack Carroll
Jack auditioned for Britain's Got Talent as a comedian at the age of 14 in 2013.He finished runner-up in the seventh series and went on to land television roles in David Walliams' comedy Big School and BBC show Doctors.The teenager, who was born with cerebral palsy, was also signed up by Simon Cowell to write an autobiography.
Shaheen Jafargholi
The Welsh singer impressed the judges with his performance of Michael Jackson's Who's Loving You when he auditioned for Britain's Got Talent in 2009.At the age of 12 he was asked to perform at the late pop star's funeral and, after the performance, Motown founder Berry Gordy said: "I have no cotton pickin' idea who that is, but if I were still in the business, I would sign him tomorrow."Shaheen made it to the final of his series and went on to branch out into acting, appearing in shows such as Torchwood, Grandpa In My Pocket, Casualty and EastEnders.
Addressing the axing claims with The Sun, a TV insider told the publication, "Nothing can be ruled out just yet, but it's not looking good."
Britain's Got Talent has been on TV since 2006. The latest series - the 14th - aired in two parts in 2020 as a result of the pandemic affecting the show's production schedule.
Now, plans for the show's 15th series hang in the balance as concerns around the safety of filming begin to rise.
According to the publication, there is a "hope" that filming for the auditions stage of the show could begin this May, but that delaying the series' air date proves a "logistical nightmare" when it comes to finding slots in ITV's TV scheduling.
The insider continued, "We are looking at the schedule and even in a best case scenario it is difficult to make it work."
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"There are so many people involved in the show, who all have multiple commitments, that just pushing it back is not a simple task," they said, "From hosts Ant and Dec, to judges Simon Cowell and David Walliams, everyone is very busy."
Recently, it was announced that ITV had secured the use of Wales' Gwyrch Castle for 2021 should restrictions not allow for I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! to return to its usual New South Wales Australia location.
Naturally, this would mean that Ant and Dec won't be able to delay filming for BGT too much as, come November, the pair will be heading to North Wales in prep for I'm A Celeb's.
We can't believe BGT might not be going ahead - what if it never comes back? To quote Rachel from Friends, "It's the end of an era!"