'Britain's Got Talent' officially cancelled for 2021

Britain’s Got Talent has officially been cancelled for 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes as the programme had already been postponed until a later point in the year by ITV because of the challenges of filming during lockdown.

However, the 15th series won’t take place at all this year and is slated to return in 2022.

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A spokesperson for the programme said: “Despite everyone at ITV, Thames and Syco doing their best to make it happen, and with our absolute priority of safeguarding the wellbeing and health of every person involved in the programme from judges, hosts and contestants to all of the crew and audience, the decision has been made to, unfortunately, move the record and broadcast of the 15th series of Britain’s Got Talent to 2022.

“BGT is known for its diversity of talent with big dance groups, wonderful choirs and lavish orchestras at its heart, and it has become clear that not only is it not possible to film auditions with these types of acts in a secure way but also that they are not able to adequately rehearse and prepare safely.

“Safety has to come first and, as a result, the recording of the show can’t currently go ahead as planned.”

Difficulties in filming amid the pandemic are compounded because acts travel from all over the UK and sometimes abroad to take part in the show, hosted by Ant and Dec.

Earlier in the week, judge Amanda Holden responded to rumours the show had been cancelled by stating that discussions were still ongoing.

She was set to appear on the judging panel alongside Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Simon Cowell, who was due to make his TV comeback after breaking several bones in his back last year.

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He missed the finals of the programme after the accident and Ashley Banjo stepped into his role on the panel.

The 2020 finals had been pushed back from spring to autumn due to the first lockdown.

With additional reporting by PA.

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