SIMON COWELL PULLS OUT OF BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT AUDITIONS — HEAD JUDGE TO MISS BLACKPOOL FILMING AFTER BACK SURGERY

Simon Cowell has stepped back from filming the upcoming Britain’s Got Talent auditions as he continues to recover from back surgery, triggering an unexpected shake-up ahead of the show’s landmark 20th anniversary series.

The music mogul was due to take part in the audition rounds filmed in Blackpool but has reportedly withdrawn from the upcoming sessions to focus on his recovery.

Cowell is expected to be replaced temporarily by a male comedian, who will join Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and YouTube star KSI on the judging panel.

According to reports, producers at Fremantle are also considering moving some of the filming dates to January, potentially allowing Cowell to return as head judge for those auditions.

The new series is expected to air in spring next year as Britain’s Got Talent celebrates its 20th anniversary, with applications due to close on October 16.

Cowell recently took time away from filming America’s Got Talent in Los Angeles, where he underwent the operation.

A source told The Sun that the 66-year-old was “gutted” to be missing the auditions but said it was important for him to rest and make a full recovery.

“It was a routine op that went well,” the source said, adding that producers were looking at a male comedian who could “spice up filming and keep the audience on their toes.”

The last-minute change reportedly comes as producers work around the availability of potential guest judges, with much of the talent already booked for the audition period.

Cowell’s latest procedure comes after years of treatment following his serious electric-bike accident in 2020.

The crash left him with a broken arm and concussion and required six hours of surgery after he suffered severe damage to his back. A metal rod was inserted into his spine during his subsequent treatment.

Cowell previously revealed just how serious the accident had been, saying in 2023 that he had come “so close to living the rest of my life in a wheelchair.”

He later said the injuries had been “a lot worse than people thought,” while explaining that the lockdown period gave him time to recover, walk regularly and rebuild his strength.

This is not the first time Cowell has had to miss Britain’s Got Talent filming. Last year, Stacey Solomon stepped in after he was forced to withdraw because of illness.

Cowell subsequently praised Solomon, saying he was a huge fan of her career and still remembered her first audition on The X Factor.

For now, the biggest change is temporary: Cowell is stepping away from the Blackpool auditions, but reports suggest the door remains open for him to return to the judging panel as Britain’s Got Talent prepares for its milestone 20th series.