Could this really be the end for Britain's Got Talent and ITV?
After a whopping 16 series, could this really be the end for fan favourite Britain’s Got Talent and ITV, and what will it mean for telly stars Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden?
Britain’s Got Talent’s 16-year reign on ITV could soon be over with the show’s deal with the network nearing its end.
The programme, which features judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli, is contracted on the channel for two more series.
Cowell, 63, whose Syco Entertainment company owns the show, has been in talks with Channel 5 to start working with them after almost two decades of screening his productions on ITV.
His five-year deal with the network ends in 2025.
BGT, which launched its latest season last night, is the last remaining programme that ITV works on with Cowell.
Amanda Holden wore a cut out red dress on the red carpet, displaying her legs, on the carpet of the Britain’s Got Talent auditions
David Walliams was replaced by former Strictly judge Tonioli. But Cowell and ITV were at odds over his appointment
While ITV bosses believe that Cowell’s meetings with other TV stations could be part of a ruse to nudge up his fee when it comes to renew the deal, some executives at the broadcaster are looking to move on from his shows.
Read more: Britain’s Got Talent descends into chaos as new judge Bruno Tonioli mistakenly presses golden buzzer HALFWAY THROUGH audition
One source said: ‘For many years Simon and his team called the shots, so much so that there was a significant amount of fear among ITV employees. But as ratings have dropped, the dynamic has changed and ITV are no longer so reliant upon his shows.
‘Plus, let’s not forget Simon has spoken repeatedly about wanting to work with Netflix, Amazon and other streaming giants. Then, of course, he has met with Channel 5, so it would be fair to assume from that that he is looking for a new home for his programmes.’
In recent years, ITV has been keen to air what it refers to internally as ‘kind television’ and has launched shows such as The Masked Singer and Starstruck.
BGT’s wholesome image was tarnished when recordings emerged of judge David Walliams making sexually explicit comments about contestants during auditions in January 2020.
He was replaced by former Strictly judge Tonioli. But Cowell and ITV were at odds over his appointment, with the broadcaster wanting to hire Alan Carr to join the judging panel.
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