Britain's Got Talent delays Birmingham auditions after Cowell illness

Britain's Got Talent postponed the first day of its 2025 audition tour in Birmingham after head judge Simon Cowell fell ill, producers said, forcing organisers to delay filming at the Hippodrome and reshuffle the judging lineup. A show spokesperson said, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's filming of Britain's Got Talent has been postponed."

Auditions were scheduled to begin on Thursday at the Hippodrome theatre, and the programme's official social account had been inviting late applicants in the hours before the cancellation. Audience members and hopeful contestants reported receiving emails notifying them that the day's performances and public taping would not go ahead as planned, prompting confusion among ticket-holders.

Production sources said Cowell, 65, became unwell within 24 hours of the planned first day of filming. "Simon felt unwell in the last 24 hours," a show insider said, adding that judges sometimes miss occasional sessions for health reasons. The insider said organisers decided to postpone the first day because they wanted to launch the series with the full panel in place. "It was best to postpone so we could launch with everyone on the panel," the insider...