Simon Cowell steps down from BGT and is replaced by Bruno Tonioli after Liam Payne’s tragic death
DISTRAUGHT Simon Cowell is set to miss filming for Britain’s Got Talent – with judge Bruno Tonioli coming in to replace him.
Filming for the ITV1 show was halted in the wake of Liam Payne‘s tragic death – and will resume on Saturday.
Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI and Bruno will continue filming whilst the heartbroken mogul takes time out to grieve.
A source said: “This news has hit Simon incredibly hard – he is utterly shocked and devastated.
“He adored Liam, and was close to his family with whom he is sure to reach out privately. He didn’t feel it was right to continue with filming BGT, and when it resumes on Saturday, does not feel he’ll be in the right head space to continue.
“All the judges and production crew are being hugely supportive.”
A spokesman for the programme’s producer, Freemantle UK, confirmed they were pausing auditions.
In a statement they said: “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and all who loved him.”
Simon, who famously created One Direction, called off the Blackpool auditions shortly after discovering the awful news.
Tragic death
Last night shockwaves spread throughout the world as news broke that Liam has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
Liam died instantly from multiple injuries including a fractured skull caused by his fall.
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said medical teams were unable to save the former One Direction heart-throb when they reached the scene.
It comes as:
- One Direction fans held candlelit vigils outside the hotel
- The singer posted on Snapchat just minutes before his death
- Rylan Clark and Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to the singer
- His ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence after his death
- Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy’s message before he died
- Harry Styles’ mum pays heartbreaking tribute to the star
According to police in Buenos Aires, officers were initially responding to reports “of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.
Pictures showed shocked fans gathering outside the hotel after police cordoned off the area, with forensic investigators in white protective suits and blue gloves seen entering and leaving.
Fans were photographed lighting candles and leaving flowers at the side of the road in an impromptu vigil as they paid tribute to the music star.
Liam’s body was taken last night to a city morgue in Viamonte Street, just a 15-minute drive south-west of the boutique hotel.
Pathologists will also take tissue samples which will be tested for evidence of drink and drug consumption prior to yesterday’s tragedy at the Casa Sur Palermo hotel.
Officials have not said how long the results of the tests will take to come back, but local media are pointing to the wait being 10 to 15 days.
Photos published by several Argentinian newspapers overnight of the inside of Liam’s deluxe suite room showed the burnt top of what appeared to be a fizzy drinks can, traces of a white powder rumoured to be cocaine and pieces of aluminium foil on a desktop.
Liam and Simon’s friendship
Liam previously spoke of his relationship with music mogul Simon and claimed that Simon had created the boy band around him.
He said he “started with my face, and then worked around the rest. I was the honorary member of One Direction. He told me that story himself at his house.”
He also recalled how Simon played a part in his romanced with Cheryl, which led to them having a son called Bear.
“I went to Simon’s house, and made a joke about how hot Cheryl was,” he explained.
“Simon was like, “I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!””
Liam continued: “Then I was in a bar and Niall came in and told me that Cheryl liked me.”
“I was like “Cheryl? Cheryl?” Niall was in Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she went red and left.”
“So I hit her up.”