Why is Simon Cowell not on Britain’s Got Talent tonight?

However, there is one notable absentee, with Simon Cowell not on the judging panel, having been replaced by TV star Stacey Solomon.

Some fans were left asking where the head judge was for this episode, so here is what we know.

Why is Simon Cowell not on Britain’s Got Talent tonight?

It was previously revealed that Stacey would be filling in for Simon for part of the auditions after he missed the first few days of filming due to a fall.

A BGT spokesperson said at the time that the first day of auditions was postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

Stacey, who lives in Essex with husband Joe Swash and her family, was drafted in to fill in during his absence.

She shared an Instagram story at the time regarding her excitement for her “dream job”.

During Simon’s absence, Amanda Holden temporarily led the panel before the long-standing judge returned for the Blackpool auditions.

Stacey and Simon have a history together, with the TV star first finding fame on The X Factor, finishing third in 2009.

The path to becoming a TV personality began with an appearance on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2010, where she went on to win the show.

Stacey has since appeared on Loose Women and now has her own shows on the BBC, Sort Your Life Out and Stacey and Joe.

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Why did Bruno Tonilo leave BGT?

Simon’s absence is not the only judging change for the 2026 series of BGT.

Social media star KSI, who featured as a guest judge last year, has joined the judging panel on a full-time basis.

He replaced Bruno Tonioli, who left due to filming clashes with the US show Dancing with the Stars.

Who is your favourite judge on BGT? Let us know in the comments.