Amanda Holden: Britain’s Got Talent 2026 Interview
Britain’s Got Talent returns to ITV1, ITVX and STV in the latest search for the most spectacular entertainers to hit these shores. This year, hundreds of hopefuls will be welcomed by award-winning hosts Ant & Dec before showing their talents to judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and new addition KSI.
You’re back for series 19, what can fans expect?
In a good way it feels very loose and very chaotic this year! And I think having KSI there, who's very succinct in his answers and doesn't hold back, has really helped the show. We’ve got the old Simon back, and I prefer him to be straight talking because that is what we know him for, and that's his trademark. He’s back and his one liners are better than ever and I'm loving that!
The majority of the auditions were in Blackpool, what did you make of the audience?
They were wild, I'm going to say feral but in the best way possible! Oh my God, people were running down the aisles, we were doing non-stop selfies every day. That kind of thing never happens in London, Everyone follows the rules and sits in their seats. But in Blackpool everyone just went absolutely nuts. Screaming, booing if we didn't press the golden buzzer. We got so much grief when people were getting four yeses, but we didn’t press the golden buzzer.
What’s your backstage hype routine on those long filming days?
What I did during auditions this year, which put me in the best mood ever, was on the Saturdays in October when we were filming - I was watching Christmas movies whilst in glam, and it made me feel so happy and was so uplifting because I love Christmas so much. It was October, and I was living my best life, getting my hair and makeup done. Add a little avocado on toast with a toffee coffee and a Christmas movie - what more could you want? I loved every filming day.
Can you predict a winner this year?
I just want a choir to win, I’ve said that for years now I know, but I’d love to see all that money spread around and see the joy of more winners.
Britain’s Got Talent 2026 launches this Saturday at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.