David Walliams suggests plans for 'Britain's Got Talent' to start filming next month could change

David Walliams has expressed doubt that Britain’s Got Talent will definitely start filming again in January.

This year’s competition was cancelled as a result of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions but with current uncertainties surrounding the spreading of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the UK, the fate of the 2022 instalment could be hanging in the balance too.

Walliams, who has appeared as a judge on the programme since 2012, has now said he “wouldn’t bet [his] house” on the plans staying in place - but he is staying hopeful.

Watch: Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman 'grew closer during lockdown'

In an appearance on Tuesday’s This Morning, the 50-year-old said: “The plan is that we’re back in January, all of us, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and the other one, Amanda Holden, and we’re back with Ant and Dec and we’re meant to be doing the show.

Read more: Stavros Flatley Jr becoming a father as he announces fiancee's pregnancy

“But obviously it is an unpredictable world, so I wouldn’t bet my house on it, but hopefully.”

Auditions for the talent competition are typically filmed at the beginning of the year with the show starting on screens in the spring.

Last year’s series was also interrupted by the pandemic as the final stages of the show had to be pushed back to the autumn.

Simon Cowell wasn’t able to return for the finals after injuring his back on an electric bike, so Ashley Banjo was enlisted to join the panel alongside Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.

Walliams’ appearance on the ITV programme also saw him address the death of Britain’s Got Talent personality David J Watson, who auditioned multiple times over the years.

Watch: Jim Davidson storms out of racism conversation with Ashley Banjo

The writer and comedian said: “Today we actually lost a guy called David, do you know about David J Watson? He was the man who, he was a contestant, he’d come back every year, year in year out, and he auditioned about 10 times, he was a wonderful character.

Read more: Simon Cowell stepping down as TV judge for new show

“Unfortunately he passed away, but he was a wonderful eccentric. Characters like him are really, I think, the life blood of BGT, and I always want to champion the underdog.”

Holden also paid tribute to Watson, stating in an Instagram Story that she was “so sad” to hear of his passing while describing him as “a good sport”.