Britain’s Got Talent’s semi-finals will reportedly be pre-recorded for the first time in the show’s history.
Sources have claimed the shows will replace X Factor in the ITV schedule this autumn after they were postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.
Insiders added that it’s likely only the final of BGT 2020 will air live, with some acts performing from their home country due to travel issues brought on by the pandemic.
Changes: Britain’s Got Talent’s semi-finals will reportedly be pre-recorded for the first time in the show’s history
A source told The Mirror: ‘The idea is to get the run finished before Strictly is out of the blocks.
‘It’s a natural replacement for the X Factor. Even if a full audience isn’t possible, it’s looking like we may be able to get a smaller one, with gaps between the groups, and enhance the sound afterwards.
‘We always say that the audience is like a fifth judge so that’s been a great relief.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor for comment.
Changes: Sources claimed the shows will replace X Factor in the ITV schedule this autumn after they were postponed due to the coronavirus crisis (auditionee Souparnika Nair pictured)
Just a month earlier it was reported the Britain’s Got Talent had rescheduled their live shows until the end of the year to replace The X Factor.
ITV bosses had hoped to air the live shows this summer, but due to COVID-19 restrictions this became impossible.
The prerecorded auditions still aired as planned in April and a source told The Daily Star bosses had initially hoped there would only be a gap of only a few weeks before the live shows.
On hold: Just a month earlier it was reported the Britain’s Got Talent had rescheduled their live shows until the end of the year to replace The X Factor
The insider added: ‘However, with measures still in place and lockdown only just starting to be released the plan is now for BGT lives to return at the end of the year.
‘With the X Factor on ice for 2020 there is a Syco-shaped hole in ITV’s schedule so this would fit perfectly.’
They added at the time that there have been a number of discussions as to how the finals will be carried out but nothing has yet been set in stone.
Delay: ITV bosses had hoped to air the live shows this summer, but due to COVID-19 restrictions it now seems unlikely (pictured auditionee Belinda Davids)
The source continued: ‘However, with measures still in place and lockdown only just starting to be released the plan is now for BGT lives to return at the end of the year.
MailOnline have contacted ITV for comment.
It was previously reported Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing are set for an Autumn ratings battle as both shows are set to air on the same weekend.
Coming soon: The prerecorded auditions are currently airing and a source said they had hoped there would only be a gap of only a few weeks (Amanda Holden, pictured in May last year)
The ITV talent search show could air its live semi-finals in September following a delay because of COVID-19 however this coincides with Strictly’s launch show.
A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: ‘Both are hugely popular and this will split the audience if they are on at the same time. Both the Strictly launch show and the first proper dancing episode both air in September.
‘But that’s when Simon Cowell and the BGT producers are planning on airing the semi-finals now they have their line-up locked in.
Conflict: It was previously reported that Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing are set for an Autumn ratings battle (Strictly’s Katya and Neil Jones, pictured last year)
‘They could try and air the semi-finals across a full week, but the final episode will likely clash with Strictly.’
They also reiterated that this clash is due to coronavirus messing with the TV schedule.
BGT judge Amanda Holden has previously said she and her fellow judges, Simon, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon have been given an Autumn date for filming to resume.
Head to head: A source said: ‘Both are hugely popular and this will split the audience if they are on at the same time’
However, that will depend on what social distancing guidelines are still in place as the show will not go ahead without a live audience.
She explained: ‘All of the main judges have been given a date to hold in early autumn to see if it works live.
‘But we would never do it without an audience because we’ve always said the British public is the fifth judge.
‘So we can’t do it without them – it would be no fun without them! We’ll see what happens, but we are planning to do it this year.’
They’ll be back: BGT judge Amanda Holden has previously said she and her fellow judges, have been given an Autumn date for filming to resume