This year's 'Britain's Got Talent' has been axed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BGT judges
ITV have released a statement announcing that the annual talent competition will not go ahead in 2021 as it would be impossible to guarantee the health and safety of the acts and everyone else involved in making the show due to the continued spread of COVID-19.
The statement read: "Despite everyone at ITV, Thames and Syco doing their best to make it happen, and with our absolute priority of safeguarding the well-being and health of every person involved in the programme from judges, hosts and contestants to all of the crew and audience, the decision has been made to – unfortunately - move the record and broadcast of the 15th series of 'Britain's Got Talent' to 2022."
The statement detailed how it would be difficulty to maintain COVID-safe protocols due to the variety of acts that appear on Simon Cowell's programme.
It continued: "'BGT' is known for its diversity of talent with big dance groups, wonderful choirs and lavish orchestras at its heart, and it has become clear that not only is it not possible to film auditions with these types of acts in a secure way but also that they are not able to adequately rehearse and prepare safely.
"Safety has to come first and, as a result, the recording of the show can’t currently go ahead as planned.”
The show - which is presented by Ant and Dec - is now unlikely to return to television screens until spring 2022.
The 2020 live finals were postponed from the spring to the autumn following the start of the pandemic and were pre-recorded with a virtual audience used to get behind the acts competing to win.
Comedian Jon Courtenay was voted the winner, taking home a £250,000 prize and a place on the bill at the Royal Variety performance.
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