Amanda Holden has advocated that Britain’s Got Talent should go ahead with a live studio audience later this year regardless of coronavirus concerns.
The TV world has been thrown into chaos by the ongoing global health pandemic caused by the COVID-19 outbreak – with Love Island cancelled for the summer 2020 season, Bake Off looking to be in doubt, and Strictly Come Dancing at risk.
BGT is currently airing audition rounds on ITV at weekends and producers are still hoping to air live rounds later in the year once coronavirus lockdown restrictions are eased.
However, 49-year-old Amanda says a live studio audience would be essential to the final rounds of the popular talent show.
Mandy declared on Radio 5: “I don’t think we would ever do it without an audience. We have always said the audience is the fifth judge.
“We need that brilliant audience behind us gearing us up and pushing us forward. It’s nothing without them.”
The show judge said performances would look flat without an army of people whooping and cheering from the stalls.
She said: “They create the atmosphere. So I know we’re going to be waiting for it all to clear up. I know there are dates for early autumn and we’re all praying.”
She also suggested the audience could be reduced and separated by multiple seats – while also offering a solution to the sparse numbers that would translate on camera.
She suggested: “Even if they have to sit five seats apart, we could fill the other seats with cardboard cutouts.”
On Monday, ITV confirmed they had cancelled plans to hold a summer series of Love Island after exhausting all avenues to film the series safely amid the ongoing health crisis.
Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV, said: "We have tried every which way to make Love Island this summer but logistically it's just not possible to produce it in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of everyone involved and that for us is the priority.
"In normal circumstances we would be preparing very soon to travel out to the location in Mallorca to get the villa ready but clearly that’s now out of the question.
"We are very sorry for fans of the show but making it safely is our prime concern and Love Island will be back stronger than ever in 2021. In the meantime Love Island fans can still enjoy all six series of Love Island on BritBox."
Show sources are hopeful the series will return in 2021.
While show host Laura Whitmore gave a silver lining when she said: "Great news is that there have been more applications then any other series! Next year is going to be BIG. Stay safe."
Reports over the weekend also suggested Bake Off is on the cusp of being cancelled over coronavirus concerns.
A source suggested organising travel and filming with contestants in Berkshire from all over the UK would prove to problematic to allow the show to go ahead.
However, a source from the show played down the report, telling Mirror Online: "We continue to monitor the situation and follow the advice of Public Health England and we will delay filming on The Great British Bake Off until it is safe to proceed."
Meanwhile the future of Strictly for the 2020 season is looking in doubt.
Show judge Craig Revel Horwood is optimistic, however, saying: "I've spoken to the producers and they're working through absolutely everything to make it happen.
"I know, fingers crossed, it will," he explained.
