Simon Cowell has revealed that his former The X Factor co-star Cheryl rejected the chance to appear on one of his other shows, Britain's Got Talent.
The ITV reality show returned on Saturday (February 22) with its 18th season, with Simon joined on the judging panel by Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and guest judge KSI.
Whilst the judging panel for BGT has been largely stable since the sixth season in 2012, Simon revealed to the Press Association that the show almost had an altogether different look ahead of its debut, and the Girls Aloud singer's late withdrawal resulted in Holden being offered the role.
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"We'd offered the role to Cheryl Cole, as she was known in those days," recalled Simon. "A week before filming, she calls me and goes, 'I just can’t do it.' [She didn't] give me a reason – I think she was freaked out.
"We literally had two judges and a week to book someone. I just knew it had to be Amanda because I'd met her and I really liked her – she was very funny and I just thought she'd fit the show perfectly."
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"Fast forward 18 years and she's still a huge success and we have become great friends. I do consider her one of my best friends," continued Simon, who added that Amanda is "our Britain's Got Talent queen."
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The latest season of the show began in customary fashion, with two acts – singer Vinnie McKee and comedian Will Burns – each receiving a golden buzzer and a ticket straight to the semi-finals.
"I don't even know what to say. Things like that don't happen to people like me," Vinnie told hosts Ant and Dec backstage. Will remarked that his life had been "changed" following his own glorious moment.
Britain's Got Talent airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
Read more Britain's Got Talent news on our dedicated homepage
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
