Britain’s Got Talent in shock judging panel shake-up as Ant and Dec confirm former star IS returning to the ITV panel
BRITAIN’s Got Talent looks set to undergo a shock judging panel shake-up with a former star making a comeback.
Ant and Dec confirmed that a former judge would be making a comeback to the programme for the semi-finals later in the series.
As the first live show of the year got underway, fans saw Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli take their seats on the famous panel.
However, the show’s hosts were quick to reveal that the panel would face some changes as the Saturday night live shows roll on.
Ant and Dec confirmed that this year’s stand-in judge, KSI, would be featured on the panel later in the run.
KSI originally stood in for Bruno during some of the audition stages.
He later took Simon’s seat during a day of auditions in Blackpool when he stood down following the death of singer Liam Payne.
The YouTube star and boxer appeared in every episode of the audition stages and now will sit on the panel once more as the series continues.
Some fans were left disappointed to realise he wasn’t on the show and took to X to complain and have their say.
One viewer wrote: “Was hoping that KSI would be on the judges panel.”
As another said: “Where is KSI? No KSI = no view from me.”
Before a third fumed: “Ksi should’ve been a judge for the semi finals & the finals, please get rid of Bruno.”
The show kicked off with a former girlband star performing on the programme but did you recognise her?
Karis Anderson plays the iconic Tina Turner in the musical Tina and gave a stellar performance as the programme got underway.
When she’s not wowing audiences with her rendition of Proud Mary, she’s one third of girl group Stooshe – who shot to fame in 2012.
Known for hits including Love Me and Black Heart – which charted at number three upon its release – the group – also made up of Alexandra Buggs and Courtney Rumbold – dropped their first album to huge critical acclaim.
Britain's Got Talent's biggest 'fix' rows
Britain's Got Talent has been plagued with 'fix' rows over the years. How many of these do you remember?
Jasmine Elcock – 2016: Teenage singer Jasmine Elcock stunned the nation with her version of Cher’s Believe. But it then transpired she had already performed professionally in London’s West End. Jasmine, 14, admitted: “I’ve performed in Annie in the West End at about the age of nine or 10, but I really get nervous.”
IrShad Shaikh – 2017: BGT fans were left questioning the rule book when IrShad Shaikh auditioned. He got four red buzzers from the judges, which would usually mean an instant dismissal. Yet in a strange turn of events, they let him continue with his act…and put him through to the next round.
Colin Thackery – 2019: Elderly war veteran Colin won BGT in 2019, but there was an outcry over the final. He warbled his place to win with a version of We’ll Meet Again but fans were furious that escapologist Jonathan Goodwin didn’t even rank in the top three. Viewers felt Jonathan – who almost suffocated while being buried alive in a gravel pit – should have won.
Axel Blake – 2022: Comedian Axel Blake was given a Golden Buzzer in 2022 after making the judges laugh. But fans were fuming when they discovered Axel already had a show on worldwide streaming platform Amazon Prime. Despite this, Axel still went on to win the series.
Taryn Charles – 2024: Singer Taryn Charles is one of this year’s hopefuls lucky enough to receive the Golden Buzzer. Bruno Tonilio put her straight through to the semi-finals following her performance of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin, but it has now come to light that she is no stranger to TV. Viewers recognised Taryn from an episode of ITV1’s Starstruck, where she impersonated Whitney Houston for judges Olly Murs, Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert and Beverley Knight.