America’s Got Talent-style Show Returns for Season 18 — With a Twist Behind the Judges’ Table

The hit UK talent show Britain’s Got Talent, hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, is back this week for its 18th season. The long-running ITV series, which first premiered in 2007, continues to showcase everyday people with extraordinary skills — and a few surprises along the way.

This year’s judging panel includes X Factor creator Simon Cowell, actress and TV favorite Amanda Holden, singer Alesha Dixon, and YouTube star KSI. Holden, who’s been with the show since day one, almost didn’t make it to that first season.

“She’s our Britain’s Got Talent queen — she’s earned that crown,” Cowell said. He revealed that the spot was originally offered to pop star Cheryl Cole (known in the U.S. for her brief stint on The X Factor USA). “A week before filming, she called me and said, ‘I just can’t do it,’” Cowell recalled. “She never gave me a reason.”

That twist of fate led to Holden stepping in — and nearly two decades later, she’s still one of the show’s most beloved faces.