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Britain’s Got Talent makes a triumphant return to the stage as judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli reunite with hosts Ant & Dec in the search for Britain’s next talented superstar... and it’s set to be a golden year. The judges are braced and ready to be met with some of the most spectacular displays of talent as lucky hopefuls perform in a bid to impress the panel enough to bag a life-changing £250,000 cash prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance. Auditions took place earlier this year in London and Manchester, where lucky contestants were voted through to the next round by the judges. Not forgetting those who went straight through to the live shows with the Golden Buzzers. Simon Cowell is excited for the show this year and gives us an idea on what to expect: Welcome back for a new series, what can fans expect this time around? I watched all the yes tapes back and honestly; it’s going to be an amazing show this year. It's just different and it's fun and it's got everything you want from BGT. It's got a heart, great stories, things we'd never seen before, which is important because you don't want to just keep repeating the same thing year on year. So overall, I couldn't be happier. What have the audiences been like during auditions? They were wild! I kind of encourage that, you know if you want to be part of the show, be part of the show. And boy did they take that on, literally! That's what makes it fun though. When you've got an audience and they're excited and they're passionate, it just gives it so much more energy. Can you see a difference between the London and Manchester audiences? Yeah. Big time. London audiences are great, that's why we do auditions in London. However, you go up north and it's like party night, and I mean every day! We're very lucky that we've got all those people sitting behind us. What did you think when Bruno broke the golden buzzer on the first day? I just knew something like that was going to happen! I just thought it was hilarious. I love it when things go wrong or the unexpected happens, otherwise it's boring. So I thought it was hysterical. I love that there aren’t any rules on the show anymore. It is kind of like being back at school, because the teachers keep coming in saying, “You know, can we try and keep the golden buzzers down?” And they know we've got absolutely no intention whatsoever of doing that. I keep saying, “Look, if something happens or the audience in particular are telling us, then we kind of have to”. I think they secretly love when it happens, but they have to try and keep us in check! But I don’t think it matters. I mean, we don’t want to get to the point where you've got 20 golden buzzer acts, but I think eight or nine is fine, that's one an episode and in one episode you'll see two. I don't see that as a bad thing. Did you have an idea going into this series what you wanted for your golden buzzer? No, I never do, to be honest with you. I never know what kind of act to press it for. And then in the moment I do obviously listen to the audience and then I'm kind of imagining it in my head. And then you just go, “I've got the ability to press it for this act”, and it's just the best feeling in the world. There's nine golden buzzers this year, the most the show has ever had. What do you think that says about the quality that fans are going to see in the finals? Well, the truth is, honestly, when I watched the yes tapes back, I thought there were about another 17 acts who easily could have had a golden buzzer. That’s how good the talent is this year. But look, I think eight or nine is the absolute limit. I don't think you could ever really go beyond nine, well, maybe 10 at a push! But I always listen to the audience and the feedback I got last year was they did enjoy seeing more golden buzzers. It doesn’t mean we’ll just hand them out for no reason, they have to be earned otherwise there’s no point in them. They have to stand out, like Amanda’s second buzzer, I’ve never seen anything like that. It's so funny. It's just so weird but brilliant. Looking ahead to the live shows, what can fans expect? An absolute party! Those live shows are incredible, the energy is electric. Like I said about Manchester, it does feel like a party. If we had a hundred shows, we could fill that theatre every night given the amount of requests for tickets we get. So many people want to come to the live shows because it is really, really good. It's so much fun. We’re really conscious that it’s a party atmosphere, so when we’ve been deliberating about who makes it through, we could have had 80 acts but we have to have 40. It’s been so tough to whittle them down this year. I think the audience is going to love it though. What do you think is the secret to winning over the British public? I don't know anymore. I genuinely don't. I mean, if you had told me after his first audition that Viggo was going to win, I’d be like, “Yeah, right”. But then it happened. And the great thing about this show is it doesn't matter. Whoever the public chooses, the public chooses, and I really think they get it right most years. I really, really do. There's always someone I feel bad for, of course. But you can just never predict who the public will love. Though, interestingly, this year, when we were discussing the finals, we went round the room and said who we think might win and there was one person everyone gravitated towards. It’s going to be interesting. I’m excited for this year, let’s see who the public picks as their winner. As a bonus this year, Britain's Got Talent Reacts will be shown straight after the main show on ITVX. Viewers will watch highlights of the brand-new series through the eyes of some of the UK’s biggest content creators, who will be sharing their thoughts and opinions on the brave acts taking to the stage, in a bid to impress the judges. The content creators will be joined by some notable acts from former series of Britain’s Got Talent and a few surprise celebrities along the way. BGT Reacts will be a celebration of the ‘react’ style of video that has recently dominated social media across the globe and will be packed full of zany humour and hilarious reactions to the brilliant auditions from this new series. Six 15-minute episodes will drop on ITVX, each week, straight after the transmission of the main show on ITV1. Britain's Got Talent screens on ITV this Saturday at 7.30pm. A second episode will be shown on Sunday at 7.40pm.

Britain's Got Talent 2024 with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and Ant and Dec returns to ITV very soon. Auditions for the show took place earlier this year in London and Manchester. ITV have released a taster of what is to come ITV announced that viewers will be able to watch the first episode on Saturday, April 20 at 7.30pm. A second episode will air the following day on Sunday April 21 at 7.40pm.

Ant and Dec prank Simon Cowell not once but twice during this seasons launch show of Saturday Night Takeaway. Having previously pranked Simon on their first show 20 years ago when they dressed up as contestants on American Idol, Simon fell for it again. The first prank involved Simon riding his bike in Malibu. Ant said: 'It was even sweeter getting him the second time round because we also got him during his downtime as he’s riding his bike around Malibu, it’s very, very funny.' Dec added: 'We are ending the Undercovers where we started… with Simon Cowell! Our first ever Undercover was on Simon in LA when he was a judge on American Idol. 'So we've gone back and got Simon Cowell again. We went out to LA and gave him the day from hell whilst he was judging on America's Got Talent.' The second prank saw Simon in a metal box on America's Got Talent where he was told they had lost the key to release him. Take a look:

Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli joined Ant and Dec on Wednesday to start the round of judges auditions at the London Palladium. A historic day was marked by three golden buzzers pressed on the first day of auditions.. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli all decided to select their golden buzzer act on Wednesday. According to an audience member who was at the auditions, Bruno hit his buzzer first for a dance act, followed by Simon who sent a Japanese dance act through to the semi-finals. Amanda chose a female theatre singer.. Simon arrived on the first day in his Rolls Royce, choosing a classic car for the Thursday auditions. Thursday also saw the judges appear on the red carpet outside the Palladium. After an exciting day Simon and Lauren head home.

Simon Cowell is back from his Barbados holiday and has welcomed a furry new addition to his family. Introducing his German Shepherd puppy on social media. Simon has called her Pebbles. We are sure her name is from his favourite Flintstones shows. Can we expect a Bam Bam next? Pebbles will join Squiddly, Diddly, Freddie and Daisy as part of Simon's canine family. You can see more of Simons Dogs on their own page. Simon and Lauren visited the red carpet earlier this week to support Simons co-judge Sofia Vergara from America's Got Talent. Sofia is starring in a new Netflix production Griselda which screened in London.

Simon Cowell looked at ease taking phone calls to raise money for the ICAP charity day. Simon joined a host of celebrities to raise money for charities around the globe, 100 per cent of the company's revenues and its brokers' commissions generated are donated to fund specific charitable projects that will have a positive impact. The charities included are Alzheimer's Research UK, Australian Skin Cancer Foundation and Crisis contra el cancer'. Since it began in 1993, ICAP Charity Day has raised more than £160 million, which has been donated to more than 2,900 charitable causes around the world.

Simon Cowell chats with Terri Seymour at his Malibu home on how therapy changed his life. Simon explained what triggered him to seek help. “This all came about, I think, off the back of COVID… because I was so scared about COVID. We all sat in this house, me, Lauren [Silverman] and Eric alone for about a year, terrified about this thing, you know, which no one knew about.” He continued, “Everyone was really, really scared. I was. And actually, once I got it, it was like nothing. It was like catching a cold, so the idea is that we’re all just going to happily go back to our normal lives after that… it doesn’t work that way.”. Simon said, “I really did stop reading newspapers, I stopped watching the news. I just, I found everything too overwhelming, if I'm being honest with you.” Terri asked: “Now you’ve discovered this and it made you feel so much better in yourself, work, and has it made your relationship with Lauren even better?” “It has been good for both of us,” he said, adding, “In fact, we did do this thing where both of us go in… There was one point when we were together and I looked at the two therapists and their faces were like… and when we got out, we both cracked up and said, ‘God, what must they be thinking?’” Simon continued, “Then I spoke to my therapist afterward and he said, ‘Honestly, Simon, that was nothing,’ but it is healthy to go somewhere and let it all out.” Watch the interview:

Simon Cowell is horrified to learn Eric wants to audition in next years Britain's Got Talent. Speaking on the red carpet at America's Got Talent, Simon said: "I think he wants to be in a rock band. He loves Green Day. He is really serious about it." “That is going to be total torture. “I mean, of all the things I’ve ever done, this will probably be the hardest. “I said, because he does play drums, ‘Are you going to drum?’ and he said he wants to sing." "I went, ‘Oh God no’.” Simon wants Eric to take over from him as a judge on America's Got Talent. Apparently he is already learning the ropes. Simon explains: "He sits and watches the shows with me before they go out and I don't ask him, but I look at his reaction because kids don't lie.' 'If they are bored, they are bored and if they are interested in something, they are... And that's really helped me actually. I hope he does what I do.' Perhaps Eric would like to show off his equestrian skills on BGT. Country living must be suiting Eric as he shows off a new proficiency in the saddle mastering a rising trot over jumps. Terry Seymour posted on Instagram showing Eric riding a pony. See photos of Eric growing up on our dedicated page .

Simon Cowell has bravely spoken about how therapy is helping him overcome anxieties and depression which he noticed he was suffering from especially during the covid pandemic. Talking exclusively to The Mirror newspaper, Simon opened up on his fears and how he found calm again with therapy sessions. "I suppose COVID was the real catalyst.” Like many people during this time, his mental health deteriorated, and he describes being in a constant state of anxiety. “In the very, very, very early stages, some friends of mine got really ill and I’m talking about really ill,” he says . Simon, Lauren and Eric spent lockdown at his house in Malibu.. ”So, I thought, ‘God, if I catch this, maybe the same thing’s going to happen to me, Eric and Lauren.” Watching the news only made things worse, and he consulted endless doctors to try and work out how best to protect his family. “I didn’t know what was true or not, I just didn’t have a clue other than I was petrified about catching it. Just petrified.” Adding to his worry when lockdown ended he wasn't sure if he should go ahead filming Britain;s Got Talent explaining “I felt a lot of responsibility at that point...I just didn’t know what was the correct thing to do other than don’t chance it, don’t risk it,” After speaking to friends who had gone through therapy he decided to try it, saying:. "You realise you’re talking to a professional and they don’t judge you, they listen to you.”. Simon was also anxious about the ratings of his shows, his therapist asked him ‘Do you consider your best work to be the highest-rated thing you’ve ever done?” And I said, ‘No.’ And he said, ‘So why are you judging yourself on that?’” Simon sent an email to his team saying he no longer wanted to know about the ratings. “And it’s quite incredible because it now doesn’t feel like you’re chasing something. You’re just making something you like in the hope that other people like it as well. If they don’t, they don’t.” “When I see my friends, the first thing I talk about is how therapy has had this super positive effect on my life,” he says. “I wish I had done this 10 or 20 years ago...it’s like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.” Listen to the full interview with Tom Bryant talking to Simon Cowell on the Men in Mind podcast

Simon Cowell launches a new venture with Universal Music under the Syco umbrella named Syco Publishing. Syco Publishing is a boutique publisher dedicated to supporting and developing global songwriting talent. Focused on nurturing rising songwriters, new boutique pubco is home to Lucy Spraggan and John Samuel Gerhart, as well as song catalogues from Camila Cabello, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal, Fifth Harmony and more Simon Cowell and Syco Entertainment, the pioneers behind the world’s most successful talent discovery formats, together with the global publishing division of Universal Music Group (UMG), today announced the launch of SYCO Publishing, a boutique publisher dedicated to supporting and developing global songwriting talent. Through the new collaboration, SYCO Publishing will sign and develop songwriters and catalogs that will be administered and supported exclusively through UMPG globally. The initiative will also create new opportunities for its writers to work across Cowell’s extensive network of media formats and projects. In making the announcement, Simon Cowell said, “There is nothing more important than a great song. I started my career in music publishing. Mike and Universal have given me the chance to build a music publishing company. They are a brilliant company and share my wish to work with amazing songwriters.” SYCO Publishing is already home to songwriters Lucy Spraggan and John Samuel Gerhart, as well as song catalogue rights for hits from Fifth Harmony, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal and Camila Cabello, including “Havana”, “Sangria Wine” with Pharrell Williams, and rights to songs performed by artists including Machine Gun Kelly, Major Lazer, Ed Sheeran, Mark Ronson and Shawn Mendes. Mike McCormack, MD of UMPG UK, said, “Simon has been a good friend for decades and I’m thrilled he has finally decided to launch a publishing business with UMPG. His track record is incredible – he’s always had great instincts and passion for outstanding songs, and brings incredible value to every songwriter, producer and catalogue he works with. The UMPG team looks forward to working closely with Simon on SYCO Publishing and providing the best global support to develop tomorrow’s stars.” SYCO Publishing is the second songwriting-focused project that SYCO Entertainment and Universal Music Group have launched collaboratively. In 2022, the companies teamed to launch StemDrop - a new creative platform for musical collaboration, curation and artist discovery, which launched exclusively with TikTok and Samsung. Simon Cowell's company Syco Entertainment, is an independent entertainment company which created and owns TV formats such as “Got Talent” and “The X Factor”. Got Talent is officially the world’s most successful reality TV format; America’s Got Talent has remained the No1 summer series in the US for the past 16 years; The X Factor is the most successful music TV format in history delivering more global chart stars than any other show in the world. These two shows are currently on air in more than 180 countries and are watched by more than a billion people each year. Through his TV formats, Simon has launched more superstar careers than any other in history including One Direction, Fifth Harmony, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal and Susan Boyle.

Simon Cowell has sold his £45 million house in London and has moved into a country house in the Cotswolds. Last week saw the removal men taking out his possessions from his London home, with Simon now settled in the scenic countryside. Simon has no other television commitments other than Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent now wanting to spend more time with his son Eric. He is also said to have reflected on life after falling off an e-bike at his California home in 2020 – an accident he said he was lucky to survive. He broke his back and underwent six hours of surgery. Turning his back on the showbiz life where he couldn't walk out of his London home without being stopped by fans, he can now settle relatively anonymously in the country. Simon is enjoying his life with Lauren and Eric in a calmer environment while throwing himself into local events, including the village shops and fetes. Last month Simon visited the Cotswold Wildlife Park ahead of the conservation fundraising event, next month. He kicked of the auction by bidding £2,500 for a 23.75 karat Italian gold leaf Rhino dung. One of the reasons for moving out of London has been the burglary scares he has had, including a break-in when he and his family were asleep. Last month it was alleged that a criminal gang had sold the lock details and code to his front door — which left him shocked and horrified. Simon has already downsized his company Syco Entertainment and no longer has offices in London. The company is now an entertainment assets and licensing company.

Simon Cowell in a surprise move has reportedly signed a seven-figure deal to advertise a mobile phone game. Although no longer owning a mobile phone himself, Simon filmed an advertisement for the game Royal Match. The advertisement should air in the coming months. Simon ditched his own phone to concentrate on his work and family, he felt answering texts and call was taking up too much of his day. Saying at the time 'I realised it was actually stopping me from working or living properly, so I just turned it off and I went a month, three months, then a year, then two years, then three years. And I love it.” A source told The Sun newspaper "Simon rarely puts his name to anything for advertising but the offer from this was too good to turn down. Hopefully it will make the Royal Match ads that pop up everywhere less annoying!