Britain's Got Talent returns for season 19 with KSI on the judges’ panel
Britain's Got Talent kicks off its 2026 run with a new judging line-up and an 85-minute opening episode, and viewers will see KSI sitting alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon as the search for the next big act begins.
Britain's Got Talent gets underway Saturday at 7pm
The series begins on Saturday, February 21, airing on ITV1 and on ITVX at 7pm following the latest edition of Graham Norton’s Wheel of Fortune. The opening episode runs for 85 minutes; the first round of auditions is scheduled to be followed by Lee Mack’s The 1% Club at 8. 25pm. The programme will not air on March 14 because of the final of the 2026 Six Nations Championship, and it is unclear in the provided context whether it will move day on May 16 because of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
Why KSI has replaced Bruno Tonioli
Bruno Tonioli will not take part in this year’s show after three series on the panel. He confirmed he could no longer commit due to diary clashes with Dancing With The Stars in the United States, where he also serves as a judge. Bruno said he had to "walk away from a job which has opened my eyes to so much incredible talent" and that he would miss "the chaos and joy that BGT brings. " The programme responded with a farewell message: "After three fabulous series, Bruno Tonioli is stepping down as a #BGT Judge due to filming commitments. His time with us has been truly SEN-SA-TION-AL! Thank you, Bruno, we'll miss you!"
KSI moves from guest spot to full-time judge
YouTuber, boxer and musician KSI, whose real name is Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji, is making his debut as a full-time judge on Saturday night after serving as a guest judge last year. KSI said he was "so grateful and happy to be a part of the Britain's Got Talent team for another season, " adding he was "full of energy, ready to go" and eager to "make this the most entertaining BGT season ever!" The programme noted that KSI had proved enormously popular with viewers when he previously appeared on the panel.
Where auditions were filmed and who returned
The latest batch of auditions were held last year in the Winter Gardens in Blackpool; auditions have been filmed in Blackpool for the past three series. The auditions have previously been held at The Lowry in Salford and at the London Palladium. Amanda Holden, who has appeared on every season of the programme, said she loves heading north for auditions, calling Blackpool "a completely different type of person" where people are "noisy" and "a massive extension of us. " She added that the cast are looked after in their hotel, that everyone is "so warm and gorgeous, " and that Blackpool feels like home.
Judges, hosts and the last series’ winner
Season 19 reunites Amanda Holden with Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon on the judging panel, now joined by KSI. Newcastle duo Ant and Dec return to presenting duties; Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly attended the Series 19 launch at the Ham Yard Hotel along with Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and KSI. Last year’s series was won by magician Harry Moulding, who beat dance group The Blackouts and dancer Binita Chetry to take the prize: an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance and £250, 000.
Viewer reaction, golden buzzer controversy and recent panel changes
Minutes into the first episode on February 21, viewers raised the same complaint about the golden buzzer, worrying it would be overused after Ant and Dec reminded the audience that judges can send contestants straight through to the live semi-finals with the golden buzzer. Fans posted comments calling for fewer golden buzzer moments, asking rhetorically how many would be used this year and joking with lines such as "9 to my knowledge. " One viewer wrote, "We don’t need to see the golden buzzer, " and another called for ditching what they described as an overused feature along with "overproduction" and sob stories.
The judging line-up has undergone other recent shifts. Simon Cowell, the chief judge, has faced health issues in recent years: the 66-year-old survived a near-fatal bike accident that left him questioning his ability to walk again, and last year he missed some auditions after a head injury sustained falling down stairs. Stacey Solomon stood in for some auditions while Amanda Holden assumed the role of chief judge; Amanda confessed she "hated sitting in that seat" and felt vulnerable without a fellow judge on either side. She praised Stacey for bringing warmth to the panel and noted Stacey’s own audition history on The X Factor.
Spin-off series Britain's Got More Talent, which ran from 2007 to 2019 and was presented by Stephen Mulhern, will not return this year.
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The next confirmed viewing milestone is the 85-minute opening episode on Saturday, February 21 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with the first-round auditions and the chance for acts to compete for a Royal Variety Performance slot and the £250, 000 prize.
