Simon Cowell names British pop star Amanda Holden replaced on Britain’s Got Talent
The last 18 years could have been very different.
Simon Cowell has revealed the name of the British pop star who nearly joined the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel before pulling out.
The talent show returns on Saturday, February 22 at 7pm on ITV for its 18th season—this is the earliest a BGT season has ever started in a calendar year.
With last year’s winner Sydnie Christmas planning to go back to school after winning the £250,000 grand prize, 2025’s hopefuls are now ready to take to the stage.
And ahead of the big relaunch on Saturday, judge Simon, 65, has revealed who Amanda Holden stepped in for at the last minute back in 2007.
For the show’s first series, the judging line-up consisted of three big names giving their verdict on the hopeful auditionees: Simon, Piers Morgan, and Amanda.
However, Simon had plans for another big name to sit behind the desk.
Amanda is gearing up for her 18th year as a BGT judge (Picture: ITV/A)‘Amanda is our Britain’s Got Talent queen, and she deserves that crown.
And do you know what? She was an interesting booking because we’d
offered the role to Cheryl Cole, as she was [named] in those days.
‘A week before filming, she calls me and goes, “I just can’t do it” and wouldn’t give me a reason. I think she was freaked out. We literally
had two judges and a week to book someone.’
He continued: ‘I just knew it had to be Amanda because I’d met her and I really liked her; she was very funny and I just thought she’d fit the show perfectly.’
Cheryl joined Simon Cowell on The X Factor a year later (Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images) Amanda joined BGT at the very beginning – 18 years ago (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)Almost two decades on from that first BGT series, it appears Simon’s hunch was correct, with Amanda having been by his side throughout the show’s entire run.
Simon said: ‘Fast forward 18 years, and she’s still a huge success, and we have become great friends. I do consider her one of my best friends.’
Of course, it wasn’t longer after apparently ‘freaking out’ over BGT that Cheryl was a judge on Simon’s other talent competition, The X Factor.
The former Girls Aloud singer, 41, joined the singing competition at the start of its fifth series, replacing Sharon Osbourne following her departure at the end of series 4.
She briefly left the show between the 2011 and 2013 seasons but returned for the show’s 11th season in 2014, which was eventually won by Ben Haenow.
Britain’s Got Talent is back for its 18th series (Picture: ITV/PA)Cheryl was eventually replaced for good in 2016 when Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger took up a full-time judging role after briefly stepping into the chair between 2012 and 2014 in Cheryl’s absence.
However, by the end of the show, in 2018, Simon was the last remaining judge from the 2000s era, accompanied by Robbie Williams, Ayda Field, and Louis Tomlinson.
On this year’s season of Britain’s Got Talent, Simon will be joined by Amanda, Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon, and special guest judge KSI.
With the new season of BGT just days away, fans were shocked to learn that Simon was apparently the target of rude heckling during the show’s taped auditions.
Comment nowAre you excited for BGT to return?Comment NowBoos and repeated insults were aimed at Simon, which included ‘You old fart’ when he criticised those auditioning. It was even claimed by The Sun that filming needed to be halted as a result of the rowdy audience.
Thankfully, Simon saw the funny side: ‘Simon isn’t vain in that way and found the heckling absolutely hilarious—even when they were calling him an old fart,’ a source told the publication.
‘He loves having BGT in Blackpool precisely because the crowds are so raucous and enthusiastic.’
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Cheryl’s reps for comment.
Britain’s Got Talent returns on Saturday, February 22, at 7pm on ITV.
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