Britain's Got Talent returns with KSI as permanent judge as Bruno Tonioli bows out
Season 19 of britain's got talent opened on Saturday, February 21, with KSI taking a permanent seat on the judges’ panel alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. The arrival of KSI follows Bruno Tonioli’s confirmed departure due to commitments on Dancing With The Stars in the United States, and comes as the programme prepares schedule changes around major sporting and music events.
Development details
The new series began on Saturday, February 21, airing on ITV1 and ITVX at 7pm and running for 85 minutes; the first round of auditions is followed at 8. 25pm by Lee Mack’s The 1% Club. The prize remains a performance at the Royal Variety Performance and a cash award of £250, 000. Auditions for the latest batch were held last year at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, where the show’s auditions have been filmed for the past three series; earlier venues have included The Lowry in Salford and the London Palladium in London.
Bruno Tonioli, who joined the show in 2023 and appeared across three series after replacing David Walliams, has confirmed he will not take part in this year’s run because his diary conflicts with filming Dancing With The Stars in America. He said he had to walk away after three series, that he will miss the chaos and joy of the show and praised the team, adding that he believed KSI had already proven himself this year. The show responded by thanking Bruno and praising his time on the panel.
Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji, known professionally as KSI, who filled in as a guest judge last year, is now a full‑time panel member. ITV has highlighted his strong viewer approval, and KSI commented: "I'm so grateful and happy to be a part of the Britain's Got Talent team for another season. I had such a good time last year and I can't wait to see some more top talent. I'm full of energy, ready to go and can't wait to make this the most entertaining BGT season ever! Let's do this. " The previously announced spin‑off, Britain's Got More Talent, which ran from 2007 to 2019 and was presented by Stephen Mulhern, will not return in 2026.
Britain's Got Talent: Context and escalation
The show, now approaching its 20th anniversary, remains a major fixture: it continues to draw millions of viewers and is described as a juggernaut for ITV. Last year’s series was won by magician Harry Moulding, who overcame acts including dance group The Blackouts and dancer Binita Chetry after months of competition. The return episode featured a striking moment in which a parkour dog act drew rapturous applause from the studio audience and three of the four judges; Simon Cowell reacted with visible excitement, likening the moment to the era of Ashleigh and Pudsey, the dog-and-owner duo who previously won and later had a film.
KSI’s arrival has prompted a tonal shift at the judges’ table. Commentary from the launch noted that, unlike some other high-profile appointments, KSI offered a blunt, reality‑checking presence on stage. His background — emerging from YouTube, building a rap career and co‑launching the Prime energy drink in 2022 with Logan Paul — was highlighted in coverage; the Prime drink has been removed from some schools because of concerns about its high caffeine levels and the disruptive queues it created among children.
Immediate impact
Producers and viewers are already responding to the reshaped panel and the return episode’s moments. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly resume presenting duties, while Amanda Holden has celebrated the return to Blackpool, calling the town the show’s "spiritual home, " praising its warmth and entertainment heritage and saying the production feels looked after and welcomed there. The show’s weekend slot, high audience numbers and the promise of a substantial prize mean the series remains a launchpad for breakout talent.
Fans reacted on social platforms to both personnel changes and the launch episodes: users offered messages such as "Can't wait to see you as a judge!" and "Can't wait, so excited already!" The programme’s producers have also adjusted scheduling: ITV will not air britain's got talent on March 14 because of the final of the 2026 Six Nations Championship, and it is unclear in the provided context whether a scheduled slot on May 16 will move because of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
Forward outlook
The immediate calendar is clear in several respects: KSI is confirmed as a full‑time judge for the series starting February 21, Bruno Tonioli will be absent while filming Dancing With The Stars in the United States, and the broadcast schedule will skip the March 14 edition because of the Six Nations final. Auditions filmed in Blackpool over the past three series will continue to underpin the live rounds, and the show remains on course to mark its 20th anniversary in the near future.
What makes this notable is that the combination of KSI’s popularity with younger audiences and his more confrontational judging style has already changed the framing of performances on opening night, offering producers a different dynamic to present to viewers while the programme navigates high‑profile calendar clashes and the legacy of long‑running spin‑offs.
