Huge change to Britain's Got Talent after ‘absolutely wild' Blackpool shows which Simon Cowell ‘loved'
Now, I can reveal the raucous crowds who made the early episodes so much fun have convinced Simon Cowell and producers to host try-outs in yet another major UK city.
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In fact, as well as heading back to Blackpool this autumn seeking contestants for BGT 2026, I can reveal that auditions will also be held in Birmingham as show bosses turn their backs on the capital completely.
A TV insider said: 'The audiences up north were absolutely wild, with some shouting at Simon and flicking him V-signs if he didn't make a decision they approved of. Then, hilariously, some of the people who had abused him would sidle up afterwards and ask for a selfie — and, of course, he duly obliged.
'Simon loved it, so when they were looking at what to do for the new series, they decided to try out another city further north that might provide some of the same dynamism.'
Birmingham was the birthplace of huge ITV shows, including cult kids' favourite Tiswas and classic soap Crossroads.
Britain's second city was the home of talent contest New Faces which helped launch the careers of stars including Joe Pasquale and Lenny Henry.
The BGT live semi-finals and final will likely remain in London.
Moving the auditions from the big smoke on a near permanent basis won't surprise other judges either.
Talking of their sensational trip north for the 2024 auditions,
Amanda Holden said this year: 'The audiences were super-warm and brilliantly up for it. The show felt really appreciated and wanted up there.
'I honestly think we won't go back to London for the auditions. I think we'll be going back to Blackpool all the time.'
Well, it turns out you were half right Amanda . . .
Amanda Holden appears NAKED on radio just days after Ofcom complaints over BGT dress
Nick: Why The Traitors is magic
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NICK MOHAMMED has revealed his Celebrity Traitors co-star Stephen Fry promises to be as witty as ever in the upcoming show.
The Ted Lasso actor said Stephen used a Harry Potter term for non-magical people to refer to the non-celeb version of the hit show.
He said: 'Stephen referred to it as the Muggle version which really made me laugh.'
Nick added: 'I was allowed one phone conversation a day with the kids but you are isolated from the outside world – at one point we weren't even allowed to know the time.
'You'd be, 'What's the time?' They'd say, 'It's traitors' time'.'
Filming has wrapped on the series – which will air this autumn – but Nick has kept in touch with his co-stars.
He added: 'There's a WhatsApp group and we're all on it – it's phenomenal and every day there's about 50 notifications.'
Nadiya's a sole survivor
STRICTLY Come Dancing siren Nadiya Bychkova has revealed she has her entire body insured – and does foot-strengthening exercises to help her cope with wearing her favourite high heels.
Nadiya told me: 'I do have things insured – everything I need for dancing.
'Dancing puts food on the table, so I need to make sure I am OK. I think it comes from when I was competing at the highest level. I do a lot of workouts for my feet. It's about building the muscles. You don't want to walk in heels and twist something or break something.
'As we get older, we need to look after ourselves even more. If you twist your ankle, then you're done.'
Game on for Squid
THE THIRD and final series of Squid Game landed on Friday but now its creator has hinted there could be more to come.
The dystopian hit saw gambling addict Gi-hun join in a deadly game against other vulnerable people, enticed by recruiters.
Writer Hwang Dong-Hyuk said: 'I had this faint ideation . . . not a sequel, but maybe a spin-off about the three-year gap between season 1 and season 2 when Gi-hun looks around for the recruiters.
'Maybe a portrayal of what the recruiters or Captain Park or officers or masked men were doing in that period, not inside the gaming arena, but their life outside of that.'
C4 to air axed doc
A CONTROVERSIAL documentary about medics allegedly coming under fire in Gaza will air on Channel 4 after the BBC axed it.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack looks at allegations that Israeli forces targeted hospitals and health workers in the Middle East conflict.
The Beeb commissioned the film last year but shelved it, concerned it 'risked creating a perception of partiality'.
Louisa Compton, Channel 4's head of news, said: 'We are showing this programme because we believe that, following thorough fact-checking, we are presenting a duly impartial view.'
The one-off film will air on Wednesday at 10pm.
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