Britain’s Got Talent arrived in Blackpool on Monday, as auditions for the ITV show’s 19th series continue.
Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, KSI and Alesha Dixon joined hosts Ant & Dec on the red carpet at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens as fans lined up to catch a glimpse of the all-star line-up.
Amanda, 54, stole the spotlight in a daring black top which showed off her incredible physique.
She teamed the plunging strapless number with a pair of leather trousers and a statement vintage belt.
Alesha meanwhile kept her look low-key, layering a white crop top under a loose olive green jacket and crocodile-print trousers.
Simon was looking in good spirits ten days after he was forced to pull out of the first round of auditions at the last minute.
Britain’s Got Talent arrived in Blackpool on Monday, as auditions for the ITV show’s 19th series continue. Pictured L-R: Ant McPartlin, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, KSI and Declan Donnelly
Amanda, 54, stole the spotlight in a daring black top which showed off her incredible physique
It resulted in bosses cancelling the auditions, before drafting in Stacey Solomon to temporarily replace him on the judging panel.
Stacey – who Simon first discovered on The X Factor in 2009 – joined Amanda , Alesha and KSI.
Simon rejoined the show’s auditions a day later at the Hippodrome theatre in Birmingham, with a painful looking red mark on his forehead.
In a short video posted to his official Instagram, Simon told fans: ‘It’s Simon, I’m alive and I’m in Birmingham, I just want to say thank you for all your get well messages.’
While the dad-of-one did not reveal what happened to him, a source close to Simon has shared how he sustained a bump to the head.
They told The Sun: ‘Simon had a terrible headache and migraine – caused by an accidental bump on the head. He’s fighting fit now though – and was revelling being in Birmingham and back in his judge seat.’
Daily Mail contacted a representative for Simon for comment.
Simon previously suggested he is still suffering from a painful medical issue after first opening up about it last year.
She teamed the plunging strapless number with a pair of leather trousers and a statement vintage belt
Amanda posed up a storm on the red carpet as the crowds gathered at the town’s iconic Winter Gardens for the next round of auditions
Alesha meanwhile kept her look low-key, layering a white crop top under a loose olive green jacket and crocodile-print trousers
A smiling Alesha took time to stop and greet the excited fans
Simon was looking in good spirits ten days after he was forced to pull out of the first round of auditions at the last minute
KSI has returned to the judging panel after Bruno Tonioli, who previously judged Strictly and joined the rival show in 2023 after David Walliams’ departure, quit
He shared how he suffers from debilitating migraines when he worried fans after being forced to miss a couple of auditions during filming.
Simon wears a pair of red-tinted glasses to protect his eyes while shooting in the studio under bright lights for long periods of time.
He overhauled his lifestyle after breaking his back in 2020 when he crashed his electric bike near his Malibu home in a near-fatal collision.
Simon underwent extensive surgery after the accident including having a metal rod put in his back to stabilise it.
Though his surgeon initially feared he would be paralysed from the accident, Simon has made a full recovery and says he is now fitter than he was before the crash.
He now has regular sleeping and exercise habits after overhauling his lifestyle and has lost more than 20lbs.
Simon’s mystery illness earlier this month resulted in bosses cancelling the auditions, before drafting in Stacey Solomon to temporarily replace him on the judging panel
Simon rejoined the show’s auditions a day later at the Hippodrome theatre in Birmingham , with a painful looking red mark on his forehead
KSI looked delighted to be back after proving to be a hit with viewers during the 2024 series
The auditions are setting up home in Blackpool with Amanda declaring the town is the true home of the show
The judge has stated in that past that his training regime consists of doing exercises at home and in his office.
Simon once explained: ‘I’d do 100 press-ups before I get in the bath in the morning, then at work after a meeting, I’ll shut the door and do more.’
KSI meanwhile has returned to the judging panel after Bruno Tonioli, who previously judged Strictly and joined the rival show in 2023 after David Walliams’ departure, quit.
Despite reported efforts from show boss Simon to convince him to remain, conflicting commitments with Bruno’ Dancing With The Stars gig in the US are said to have made it impossible to continue.
‘They were warm and brilliantly up for it, and very loud, and we felt like, really the show felt sort of appreciated, I think, and wanted up there,’ she said after heading there for 2024 try-outs
‘I think that’s our core audience. That’s the heartland of a talent show and of ITV, and you just go, ‘God, this is just brilliant’
The auditions are setting up home in Blackpool with Amanda declaring the town is the true home of the show.
‘They were super warm and brilliantly up for it, and very loud, and we felt like, really the show felt sort of appreciated, I think, and wanted up there,’ she said after heading there for the 2024 try-outs.
‘And I think that’s our core audience. That’s the heartland of a talent show and of ITV, and you just go, ‘God, this is just brilliant.’
‘And I honestly think we won’t go back to London after that. I think we’ll be in Blackpool the whole time.
