Britain’s Got Talent to replace The X Factor this year as ITV ‘scrap live semi-finals for pre-recorded shows’
BRITAIN'S Got Talent will reportedly return to screens this September replacing The X Factor and featuring pre-recorded semi-finals over live episodes.
ITV bosses were forced to postpone April's live shows after airing the audition episodes, but amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it is thought they are now trying to decide how to finish the 2020 series.
BBC One smash hit Strictly Come Dancing will return in late October, six weeks later than normal, so "the idea is to get the run finished before Strictly is out of the blocks."
Sources close to ITV have claimed that the semi-finals of BGT will be recorded with a small audience "with gaps between the groups."
Speaking to , the inside added: "We always say that the audience is like a fifth judge so that's been a great relief."
The final will be live but will follow all health and safety protocols involved in social distancing rules.
Meanwhile, the have suggested that the show could go down a Gogglebox-esque route, with fans filmed reacting to the contestants in their homes.
An insider told the publication: "This is certainly an option that we are looking at this Autumn.
"Although we believe we can film the show with the judges sitting slightly further apart and the acts up on the stage, the sticking point is very much the audience.
"Britain's Got Talent needs an audience."
The new claims come after sources told The Sun back in March that the network was aiming for September.
"They have no idea when the live shows will take place as it depends on government guidelines and advice," the insider said at the time.
"At the moment they would like them to happen in September, but that will entirely depend on how quickly things are back to normal."
The auditions were filmed across the country in January and February and aired in May.
Judge Amanda Holden had previously claimed that she was told by production to keep "early autumn" free for filming after the coronavirus pandemic forced them to postponed their live shows for the current series.
“All of the judges have been given a date to hold in early autumn to see if it works live," she explained.
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"We would never do it without an audience because we’ve always said the British public is the fifth judge. It would be no fun without them!”
Fellow judge David Walliams added: “There will be a gap [between the auditions and live shows] but hopefully people will forgive us".