Britain's Got Talent judges reunite in front of live audience for first time in 2 years

Ant McPartlin choked up as he and Declan Donnelly co-hosted 'Britain's Got Talent' in front of a live audience for the first time in two years.

The 2020 'BGT' live finals were postponed from the spring to the autumn following the start of the pandemic and were pre-recorded with a virtual audience, and last year's show was axed completely due to the pandemic, but the co-hosts and judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams reunited this week for the first day of the auditions at the London Palladium.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Ant told the audience: "Excuse me while I go and cry. We are so excited to be back. We were gutted to miss last year and not get to see you all. But we’re back, raring to go and have one hell of a show for you."

Amanda also admitted she felt "really choked up" to be back in front of a live audience, and Simon felt "emotional".

He told the crowd: "I’m so excited we’re back. I can see people! I feel emotional."

As well as emotion, there was also plenty of laughter at the Palladium, particularly when David poked fun at Simon for "taking his time" to pop the question to his wife-to-be Lauren Silverman - who he shares seven-year-old son Eric with - after he did so on Christmas Eve (24.12.21).

During the auditions, when an act incorporated their engagement into their performance, David quipped: "It was good you brought it up to date with the engagement. I mean, they only had a kid seven years ago. He took his time."

But Simon hit back by joking he hoped his marriage would "last longer than yours, David", referring to the 'Little Britain' star's five-year marriage to Lara Stone, which lasted from 2010 to 2015.

'Britain's Got Talent' will return to ITV this spring.