Britain's Got Talent Judges Face Producer Reprimand Over Simon Cowell's Stink Bomb Antics
As Britain's Got Talent prepares to launch its 19th season this spring, ITV producers have reportedly given two judges a "big talking to" following a mischievous prank involving stink bombs. The incident occurred during filming in Blackpool and has highlighted the chaotic energy returning to the long-running competition series.
New Judge and Renewed Chaos
The judging panel for the upcoming season features a significant change, with Bruno Toniolo departing and YouTube personality KSI joining as a full-time judge alongside Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, and Simon Cowell. The show continues to offer its substantial £250,000 prize and a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Performance.
Alesha Dixon revealed to Metro and other press outlets that Cowell's "naughty side" has resurfaced this season, particularly when he discovered his Blackpool hotel was located near both a joke shop and a rollercoaster. Cowell admitted to purchasing a collection of stink bombs from the shop, which quickly drew the attention of production staff.
The Stink Bomb Incident
Amanda Holden explained the aftermath of Cowell's purchase: "Word got round that the stink bombs had been bought and the producers gave us a big talking to. We weren't allowed them." The reprimand from ITV bosses underscores the delicate balance between the show's celebrated chaos and production standards.
Dixon described this season as returning to "the chaos that we love on our show," noting that it feels "more bonkers and British" than previous iterations. The judges have reportedly engaged in fierce competition over which acts would receive their prized golden buzzer moments.
Golden Buzzer Battles
Simon Cowell laughed about the intensity of the golden buzzer conflicts, saying, "We were fighting over the golden buzzers a lot. That was funny." Dixon shared an anecdote about one particular act that prompted her to physically dive across the judging desk to reach the buzzer before Cowell.
"I could sense Simon getting up, and I literally dived. I've never dived before. I dived onto the desk," the singer recalled. She added that production staff later asked her to recreate the dramatic moment, to which she responded, "How can I recreate this? I injured myself just to stop him getting his way."
Surprising Acts and Season Expectations
From the wings of the theater, hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly have expressed their astonishment at this season's talent pool. McPartlin stated, "We've been doing it for 19 seasons now and when they walk around the corner, that's the first time we've seen them. We're surprised every series, and we're surprised more this series than ever before."
The hosts emphasized that Britain's Got Talent remains unique in television for its unpredictability, with McPartlin noting, "Britain's Got Talent is the one show on telly where you just don't know what's going to come on screen from one week to the next."
Season Premiere Details
Britain's Got Talent returns to ITV1 and ITVX on February 21 at 7pm, promising a season filled with unexpected talent, judging panel dynamics, and the signature chaotic energy that has defined the program for nearly two decades. The combination of new judge KSI and the returning panel's spirited interactions suggests viewers can anticipate one of the most entertaining seasons in recent memory.
