When audition filming for the 20th series of Britain’s Got Talent started at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on 12 October 2026, there was at least one empty chair without its owner filling it. Simon Cowell is missing from the October filming dates as he recovers from back surgery, and his place as a guest judge is being taken by Bradley Walsh. A minor change, but to Britain’s Got Talent fans, the judging panel is practically as iconic as the contestants themselves. Here’s who is there at the moment, who has come and gone since the show started in 2007, and who has yet to be announced ahead of the 2027 series.
Quick Biography of Britain’s Got Talent
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Britain’s Got Talent |
| Known as | BGT |
| Genre | Television talent competition |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Created by | Simon Cowell |
| Developed by | Simon Cowell and Ken Warwick |
| First aired | 9 June 2007 |
| Original network | ITV |
| Presenters | Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly |
| Judges | Simon Cowell and other guest and regular judges |
| Production company | Thames (part of Fremantle) |
| Format | Auditions, live semi-finals and grand final |
| Main prize | £250,000 and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance |
| Official title | Britain’s Got Talent |
The Current Britain’s Got Talent Judges
For the 20th series, the four judges who will be sitting in the judges’ chairs have been revealed as Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI. That’s the same panel as for the 2026 series, making this the most settled line-up the programme has had in years.
Quick biography: the current panel
- Simon Cowell – Television producer and the creator of the programme. He has judged since the first series in 2007, though not every appearance has been full-time. He appeared only at the live shows in 2011, and only at the auditions in 2020.
- Amanda Holden – Actor and presenter. She has been on the panel since series one.
- Alesha Dixon – Singer and television presenter. She joined in 2012, the same year she became a Strictly Come Dancing judge.
- KSI – Born Olajide “JJ” Olatunji, he is an internet personality, musician and boxer. He joined the panel as a full-time judge for the 2026 series.
I’ve left out birth dates and birthplaces. Several pages that publish them don’t agree with each other, and I couldn’t confirm them against a reliable source.
How KSI Ended Up on the Panel
KSI’s path to the panel was a bit unorthodox, even by television reality show standards. He guest-starred as a judge for two episodes of the 2025 series, filling in for Bruno Tonioli, and was popular with viewers. The reveal was a quick comedy video where he can be seen dreaming of the heady sensation of pushing the show’s iconic large red buzzer. Cowell offered him a permanent spot as a judge for 2026.
That’s because KSI doesn’t want to mimic the not-so-gentle judges who have come before. Cowell’s the harsh commercial one, Holden’s the sentimental one who will get emotional over an audition, Dixon’s the musician who understands perfectly why a song works. KSI adds a younger viewership and a much more online understanding of what will go viral-a crucial thing for a show that now exists just as much on social media clips as it does on the telly on Saturday night.
Why Bruno Tonioli Left
Tonioli had been the last to replace David Walliams, who first took on the role in 2023. After three series, he announced he was “sad to leave the job” in a statement. The reason for his exit was reportedly because of a clash with Dancing with the Stars in the US, but one report quotes a source saying there was “not a bad feeling”.
The Walliams Years and the Early Panels
For a decade, the most familiar line-up was Cowell, Holden, Dixon and David Walliams. Walliams was announced as a judge in January 2012, reportedly on a two-year deal, after Michael McIntyre stepped down following a single series. He stayed until 2022. He later apologised for making “disrespectful comments” about contestants during breaks in filming in January 2020.
Before that, the original trio was Cowell, Holden and Piers Morgan. Morgan judged from 2007 to 2010. The 2011 panel was a one-year experiment with David Hasselhoff and Michael McIntyre, and neither came back. A few others have filled in over the years:
- Kelly Brook – brought in briefly as a fourth judge in series three, and dropped after one audition site.
- Louis Walsh – a stand-in in 2010 and 2011
- Gary Barlow – a stand-in in 2013
- Ashley Banjo – sat in for the 2020 finals.
The short version is that the show has had remarkably few permanent judges for something that has run for two decades. Cowell and Holden have been the constants, with Dixon the longest-serving of the rest.
What Is Still Unconfirmed for Series 20
The 20th anniversary series doesn’t have an official start date yet. If ITV follows its usual pattern, a mid-February 2027 return is expected, with more audition filming planned for January.
Cowell’s recovery is the main open question. He is expected to return for the main series, but his recovery timetable is still a factor. Nobody has said he will miss any of the 2027 shows, so treat any claim that he’s leaving or being replaced as speculation.
There is also talk of a Piers Morgan comeback for the anniversary. His return hasn’t been officially confirmed. The same goes for rumoured appearances by Susan Boyle and Paul Potts. Producers are reportedly looking at ways to bring back familiar faces, but nothing has been announced. Until ITV says otherwise, the confirmed Britain’s Got Talent judges remain Cowell, Holden, Dixon and KSI, with Bradley Walsh covering for Cowell only on the October audition dates.
The Judges’ Roles on the Panel
However the most establishment of them is each of the judges. Cowell is the ultimate right or wrong; he is the person who can decide if an act is a star or a joke. Holden is the one who speaks on his ‘gut’ instinct and seems to have the biggest emotional moments. Dixon provides the technical points, especially with singing and dancing. KSI is the new voice and one who is likely to say what a younger viewer is thinking.
That’s what a balanced panel looks like. When Walliams left, the show was looking for someone who could bring laughs and heart. When Tonioli left, the show was looking for someone who could bring life and, possibly, encourage younger audiences to tune in. In each instance, the show sought out a person with a defined role rather than a clone of the last one.
Final Thoughts
The Britain’s Got Talent judges are the most stable part of a show that changes its acts every year. Cowell and Holden have been there since the start, Dixon has been there since 2012, and KSI has quickly made the fourth chair his own. The 20th series brings one real unknown, which is how long Cowell’s recovery keeps him away from the desk. Past that, the panel looks set for the anniversary run.
What Viewers Ask Most About the Panel
As for the Britain’s Got Talent judges, most of the questions boil down to the following eight things: The 2027 judges are Cowell, Holden, Dixon and KSI with Bradley Walsh guest judging for the October 2026 audition dates Tonioli left because he had other commitments, not because of his feud with Cowell Walliams left in 2022 after he made some comments which he later apologised for The original trio in 2007 were Cowell, Holden and Morgan’s alleged return for the anniversary is not confirmed, but if he’s going to be on we should have an announcement from ITV.
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