Amanda Holden: Simon Cowells No Longer Mr. Soft!

has said has finally dropped his 'Mr soft act' on Britain's Got Talent and has returned to his straight-talking self.

The TV personality, 55, opened up on what viewers can expect to see on this year's  as it made a triumphant return to television screens last week.

She said: 'Simon is back. He's been Mr Soft in recent years, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that KSI is so honest on the other end of the panel. 

'He's not honest in a bad way, just very to the point, and he doesn't sugar coat anything. I think Simon's just gone, "actually, do you know what? Whatever you're saying, I agree with that as well. And I don't know why I just didn't say that in the beginning".

'I'm glad to see that Simon is no longer being soft serve ice-cream, although it was nice for a year or so!' 

Amanda added: 'It feels very loose and very chaotic this year! And I think having there, who's very succinct in his answers and doesn't hold back, has really helped the show. 

'We've got the old Simon back, and his one liners are better than ever and I'm loving that!

Simon revealed viewers will be able to get closer to the action than ever before, as he opened up about what fans can expect from the new series. 

Discussing his plans to lift the lid on the ITV favourite, he said: 'Fans can expect lots of surprises. We've tried to make it different this year. 

He continued: 'The intention is to open up as much of the background of the show as possible so that the viewer can see everything, what goes on behind the scenes, what it's like to be a contestant, what it's like to work on the show. 

'So it's almost like we've opened up a lot more to let people see how the show's made. We’re letting people behind the Wizard of Oz’s curtain, you could say.'

When asked whether fans will see a more personal side to the judging panel, he added: 'A bit, yeah! You can expect to see things you’ve never seen from us. 

'But I think it's more aimed at the contestants, the crew, the people who work on the show, because it is an army, and I think people are interested at home, personally, about things like how we set up an act between auditions, the stuff that we see in the theatre.

'I think it's important to kind of show all of that, have it a bit rough around the edges. We always say we’re a circus coming to town, well now you’re going to see all the chaos it takes to bring it alive.'