All 12 Britain's Got Talent judges ranked

We can't fault Louis on The X Factor, he's always been an entertaining foil to Simon, and his success with bands like Westlife show he's got a knack for putting together a boyband. But he's only ever appeared as a guest judge on BGT – covering for both Simon and The Hoff.

Yes, David Walliams' mum Kathleen – his actual surname is Williams, everything we know is a lie – breaks into our top 10 after she stepped in for a very late Simon while attending the auditions back in 2016. Not surprisingly, she was a hit with viewers and although she didn't use Simon's Golden Buzzer (seriously, that would have put her straight to number one, no questions asked), she still kept up his mean streak and buzzed off a lot of acts. More!

Although they're most often seen presenting the show and holding it together off stage, Ant and Dec filled in for Simon during the eighth series at the Manchester auditions. Likeable and really knowing their stuff, it's no surprise they were a hit with viewers in a different role – although we much prefer getting their reaction from the side of the stage, and their banter with the contestants.

If it were up to us, Piers would never beat The Hoff (spoiler alert). Baywatch legend – yes, we said legend – David Hasselhoff is true hero of our time, a master of TV, music and film, and we won't hear a bad word against him. So at times he was a bit wooden and ratings plummeted... but it's The Hoff! Those who did watch loved seeing him on our screens, but sadly it just wasn't meant to be.

Piers is pretty divisive, and putting the outspoken broadcaster as a judge on a TV talent show was a bold move, but it's one that actually worked. He won over some people with his blunt analysis, and it has to be said – he carried himself well in a world that absolutely wasn't his own. No, we're not clamouring for a comeback, but his four year stint was fun while it lasted.

Michael's undoubted enthusiasm and infectious laugh earn him a high spot on this list, and there are still calls for the comedian to make a comeback following his brief run on the panel in 2011. However, like The Hoff, he can't really place much higher after the judges were blamed for the series' poor ratings. It's a shame, but maybe we'll get a return one day.

Not always a huge favourite with critics or viewers, but Amanda has always more than held her own on BGT and – along with Simon Cowell – been the one constant on the judging panel since the very beginning. Longevity alone would put her high up on our list, but she's proven to be a capable star who really feels the emotion of the acts.

Former Mis-teeq star Alesha Dixon brought instant credibility when she joined the panel in 2012, and the re-working of the judging lineup gave the show the boost it really needed. Having already been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing in the past, she was no stranger to the role, and it has shown as she's gone from strength to strength over the last six (going on seven!) years.

This was a tough one – there's definitely a strong case to be made for Simon Cowell hitting the top spot. It is his show after all, and the man has revolutionised talent show telly over the last decade or so. He's even reinvented himself, going from Mr Nasty to a man willing to give people a shot and show real empathy. Honestly, he really should be number one, but someone else has pipped him to the post...

It had to be! When David joined the BGT panel alongside Alesha Dixon in 2012, it really did give the show a huge boost, and he brought the fun factor with his sarcastic quips, cheeky digs and total charm. The Little Britain comedian is used to playing to a crowd, and his interactions with Simon have helped bring the boss man out of his shell, entertaining viewers almost as much as the acts on the stage.