Piers Morgan reveals secret Britain's Got Talent judge who was never seen on screen

The Sun

2 days ago

PIERS Morgan opened up on what Britain's Got Talent might have looked like if the original format had gone ahead.
The TV presenter, 60, became a household name in the U.S after agreeing to take on the role of the "meanie" judge on America's Got Talent in place of the show's creator, Simon Cowell.
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But before finding fame across the pond, Piers was meant to be a judge on the talent show in the U.K, long before the American version was made.
Piers shared a vintage photo from the 2005 pilot of a show tested by ITV that would go on to become Britain's Got Talent, but looked very different indeed.
In the photo posted to Instagram, Piers is sitting at the judges' desk alongside then host of This Morning, Fern Cotton, and music mogul, Simon Cowell.
Piers revealed the late Paul O'Grady was meant to host the show and it was named after him, but it fell through when the late TV star fell out with ITV.
"Another amazing pic from my past, also randomly posted on X by someone yesterday.. This one is truly historic… it was the first ever panel assembled for the Got Talent franchise anywhere in the world," Piers began in the caption.
"Simon Cowell had come up with the idea of a new talent show, ITV ordered a pilot episode to be filmed, and cast Simon, me and Fern Britton (then presenting This Morning) as the judges."
Piers continued:" It was hosted by the late, great Paul O'Grady.. and called 'Paul O'Grady's Got Talent'. The acts sat in the audience and came down onto the stage when it was their turn to perform."
He described the format as "hysterical" and how ITV was ready to give it the green light, but then "shelved it" after the row with Paul.
"However, Simon isn't one of life's quitters, and a few weeks later he texted me to say he'd sold the rights to NBC in the U.S., they wanted to repackage it as 'America's Got Talent', and he wanted me as a judge on it to play the tough meanie role because he was committed to American Idol so couldn't do it," Piers added.
"(He said, 'Piers, I need someone as arrogant, obnoxious and judgemental as me, and your name has immediately sprung to mind!')."
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Piers continued:" A month later, I was on the Paramount movie lot in Hollywood, with a trailer next to David Hasselhoff's, and we started filming @agt."
The journalist described America's Got Talent as "an instant smash hit No1 summer show in America" to which he owes his "entire and I owe my entire 20-year career over in the States" for.
Piers concluded: "The following year @bgt launched in the UK but with Amanda Holden replacing Fern. That was also a No1 smash hit, and Got Talent has now aired in 69 countries, becoming one of the most successful television franchises in history. And it all started with this pic."
Before his death, Paul had confirmed that he'd been lined up to host the show, but hated the original name.
He said: "I did the pilot for Britain's Got Talent – which was originally going to be called Paul O'Grady's Got Talent. But I told the producers they were having a joke if they thought I would front a show with that title.
"The original panel of judges was going to be Simon Cowell, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan. I was the host. Then when I had the row with ITV I was banned from the studios."
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