Britain’s Got Talent EXCLUSIVE: Amanda Holden reveals live finals will take place in the autumn

Amanda Holden has shed some new light on when the Britain’s Got Talent live shows will take place, after the COVID-19 crisis halted production on the current series.

The show has been airing the pre-recorded audition episodes on Saturday nights, as is always the case this time of the year.

But with the global pandemic leading to a UK lockdown, the next stage of the competition had to be put on ice, with public gatherings banned and people being made to stay home.

Amanda revealed to MailOnline on Thursday that producers have tentative plans to film the live finals in the autumn, around the time The X Factor – which is not returning this year – should usually be broadcast.

‘We have got some dates in our diaries,’ Amanda, 49, said. ‘It’s difficult because I can’t say when because it’s all TBC. But it’s hopefully looking to be in the early autumn.’

Amanda stressed the importance of having a live studio audience for BGT, and that the show wouldn’t be the same without that atmosphere after the BBC’s autumn powerhouse Strictly Come Dancing have reportedly considered going ahead without a crowd.

‘We just can’t do it without an audience. For this show we need the British public on the stage and behind us in the audience. We need that atmosphere.’

Amanda also looked on the bright side of this happening, admitting that it’s nice to have the series drawn out over the course of the year.

‘It’s always over so quickly. We show the auditions and then we have the live shows that happen in the space of a week. But doing it this way, there’s something to look forward to later in the year,’ she mused. ‘It’s nice to have it in April/May and the autumn too.’

Amanda sits on the judging panel for BGT alongside Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and David Walliams. Teasing this Saturday’s audition episode, Amanda explained that her Golden Buzzer will be sounded at the weekend.

‘The act – it’s not one that starts all guns blazing. In fact the audition doesn’t go their way to start with,’ she revealed. ‘But it becomes a moment, later there’s a moment, a story…

‘Apparently the producers knew I was going to [press the buzzer]. I kept thinking it, but I didn’t know. But the producers knew. They apparently called the man to scramble up the ladder to release the ticker tape!’

She laughed: ‘I’d love to tell you it’s all very technical but no, it’s a man who climbs up a ladder!’ 

Amanda explained that there will be a catch-up show to remind viewers of the contestants when the show returns later in the year, and that she hopes the world will be ‘in street party mode’ by then, so it can really be enjoyed.

Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday on ITV at 8PM.