Amanda Holden’s holiday plans could be dashed by extended Britain’s Got Talent
There are rumours that the ITV series will run for three months in 2025
Watch Amanda Holden’s holiday plans could be dashed by extended Britain’s Got Talent
What did you miss?
Amanda Holden has joked that Britain's Got Talent being supersized could upset her holiday plans.
There are rumours that the ITV entertainment show could be extended next year, with more episodes airing than usual. Holden was quizzed about it along with fellow judges Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli during an appearance on ITV's Good Morning Britain.
The star confirmed that the judges had heard the whisperings, but quipped that a longer run could get in the way of her getting to the Cotswolds.
What, how and why?
Journalist Richard Arnold raised the supersizing speculation as he chatted to the trio backstage - without head judge Simon Cowell - and Holden said she loved the idea, but admitted: "It just means I can't get to the Cotswolds!"
Her comment got everyone giggling. "Excuse me!" Declared Tonioli.
Giggling, the star said the judges "also had to read it in the paper". But she went on to say that she liked the idea of the show being longer.
"I think it would be amazing if it was true and if we did it ever single Saturday rather than strip it in a week like we have done for 17 years," she said. "Because it is a Saturday night show."
Dixon chimed in: "Yeah and it is such an event when it comes around. And it is so warm and it brings so much joy - why not have it last a little bit longer?"
"We need that in the world right now... escapism," she added.
What has been said about supersizing Britain's Got Talent?
The Sun reported earlier this month that Britain's Got Talent bosses were poised to sign a deal that would see the hit TV programme - which is hosted by Ant and Dec - extended over three months.
This year the series started on April 20 and it is set to conclude with the grand final on June 2 - a total of just over six weeks. The pattern of the series is that the auditions air at weekends until the semi-final stage, when there is a week of nightly live shows in the run up to the final.
But if the rumours are true, in 2025 the programme could run from February to May - meaning plenty more instalments. Holden's comments on Good Morning Britain appeared to suggest that if the show was extended the live semi-finals could air at weekends too, instead of all being crammed together over one week.
It is apparently thought that supersizing Britain's Got Talent would also help to fill the void left by Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. The presenters have confirmed they are resting the family favourite for a bit, so the series that wrapped earlier this year will be the last for a bit. Saturday Night Takeaway tended to run from around February to April, when the presenters would move over to BGT.
The Britain's Got Talent final airs on ITV at 7.30pm on Sunday June 2, with the lucky winner set to pocket ￡250,000 and win a slot at the Royal Variety Performance.
Yahoo has contacted ITV for comment.
