Britain's Got Talent is back on TV screens for a festive magic special, but there are three major names missing from the epsiode, which is airing tonight on Sunday, December 18. Ant and Dec and Simon Cowell aren't in the line-up for the new instalment of the ITV show, where some of the programme's best past magicians return.
BGT fans will see Simon replaced by magician Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller for a very special edition of the ITV show and as Ant and Dec tested positive for Covid, Stephen Mulhern stands in on the hosting duties. Ant and Dec were unable to film the special after testing positive for Covid, which also saw them miss picking up another Best Presenter gong at the National Television Awards back in November.
"It was quite bizarre standing on the other side. I'd done Britain's Got More Talent for 14 years, but doing the whole thing you would always associate with Ant and Dec, it was a weird experience, like a dream come true!" Stephen said of standing in for Ant and Dec.
"Yes I was [nervous], only because on BGMT, I'd always watch from the side of the stage. We'd do the spin-off show and react to what's happened and even doing the chats with the judges was a real bonus because thankfully I knew them."
Meanwhile, Simon was filming in America when shooting took place earlier this year as Penn and Teller's Penn stands in for him alongside David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.
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