Britain’s Got Talent is set to return for its 18th season on Saturday, February 22, at 7 PM on ITV, marking the earliest premiere in the show’s history. 

Ahead of its comeback, Simon Cowell has made an interesting revelation about the show’s first season in 2007

sharing that a famous British pop star nearly joined the judging panel before backing out at the last minute.

Simon, 65, revealed that Cheryl Cole, then a rising television personality and former Girls Aloud star, was originally set to be part of the judging lineup. 

However, just a week before filming began, she unexpectedly pulled out, leaving Simon scrambling to find a replacement.

Amanda Holden Wasn’t the First Choice

During the show’s first season, Simon sat on the judging panel alongside Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden. But in a recent interview, he shared that Amanda was actually a last-minute addition after Cheryl backed out.

“Amanda is our Britain’s Got Talent queen, and she deserves that crown,” Simon said. “But she was an interesting booking because we had actually offered the role to Cheryl Cole first.”

According to Simon, Cheryl initially accepted the offer but abruptly changed her mind.

“A week before filming, she called me and said, ‘I just can’t do it,’ and wouldn’t give me a reason. I think she was freaked out,” he explained. “We literally had two judges and a week to book someone.”

Simon’s Gut Feeling About Amanda Paid Off

After Cheryl withdrew, Simon had to act fast to fill the vacant judge’s seat.

“I just knew it had to be Amanda because I had met her before and really liked her. She was very funny, and I thought she’d fit the show perfectly,” he recalled.

That instinct proved to be correct. Amanda, now 52, has remained a core member of the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel since its launch, alongside Simon.

“Fast forward 18 years, and she’s still a huge success. We’ve become great friends, and I consider her one of my best friends,” Simon added.

Cheryl Went on to Judge The X Factor

Although Cheryl backed out of Britain’s Got Talent, she didn’t stay away from reality TV for long. Just a year later, in 2008, she joined Simon as a judge on The X Factor, replacing Sharon Osbourne for the show’s fifth season.

She quickly became a fan favorite and mentored two winners, Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry, during her time on the show.

Cheryl left The X Factor in 2011 to take a brief and unsuccessful judging role on the American version of the show before returning to the UK version in 2014. However, by 2016, she had left the show for good and was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.

By the time The X Factor ended in 2018, Simon was the only remaining judge from the early years, sitting alongside Robbie Williams, Ayda Field, and Louis Tomlinson in its final season.

Britain’s Got Talent Returns with a New Twist

Now in its 18th season, Britain’s Got Talent continues to be a major TV event, with new hopefuls preparing to compete for the £250,000 grand prize.

This year’s judging panel features Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli. In a special twist, YouTuber and musician KSI will also appear as a guest judge.

Ahead of the show’s premiere, reports surfaced that Simon was subjected to rude heckling during auditions, adding to the drama leading up to the new season.

With the return of Britain’s Got Talent, fans are eager to see what surprises, standout performances, and unexpected moments this season will bring.

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