Britain’s Got Talent bosses ‘fear the live shows WON’T go ahead’

Britain’s Got Talent bosses are reportedly concerned the live shows will be unable to go ahead later this year due to lockdown restrictions.

Sources have claimed producers are convinced the latter half of the series – originally planned for this autumn – will be cancelled, as many acts will be unable to take part due to lockdown restrictions.

It’s thought that acts such as Sign Along With Us and X1X Crew would be most at risk of taking part, along with the ongoing problem of performing without a live audience.

A source told The Mirror that bringing back an act such as Sign Along With Us may not be possible, as they would be unable to perform together due to social distancing rules.

Bosses are also reportedly concerned for X1X Crew from India, as travel restrictions and quarantine measures may mean they cannot journey to the UK for the live shows.

The insider said: ‘The initial plan was that the final could be filmed this autumn, but that’s looking increasingly unlikely. We can’t imagine an audience of that size being allowed.

‘Can we do it without an audience? Yes. But would we want to? No. And then there are the acts. We’re going to put all those people in that choir together? You’re going to fly over that dance troupe from India?

‘No, we don’t think that it’s going to happen. I’d say its chances were very slim.’

When contacted by MailOnline a representative for Britain’s Got Talent reiterated ITV’s plans for the live shows to air later this year.

They said: ‘The Britain’s Got Talent audition shows will broadcast on ITV in the next few weeks.

‘We have been working with the brilliant production teams at Thames and Syco to find a way of making the live finals work, which were due to be broadcast at the end of May. 

‘However, in light of the latest government health guidelines and in line with our priority of safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in our programmes, production of the live shows cannot go ahead as planned. 

‘The live finals will therefore be broadcast later in the year.’ 

Earlier this month BGT judge Amanda Holden claimed bosses had told her to ‘keep early autumn free’ in the hopes that filming can continue.

The live shows – which typically air over the course of a week in late May and early June – were postponed in March due to the coronavirus crisis, with only the pre-recorded auditions able to air as planned.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, the mother-of-two said: ‘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.’

A source added that Amanda, alongside fellow judges Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Simon Cowell, could return in September but that progress will depend on government guidelines and advice.