Britain’s Got Talent’s worst feuds – ‘sacked’, refusal to work together and ‘bitter’ swipe

ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent has seen a rotating panel of judges over the last 18 years, some of which have found themselves in heated arguments.

A slew of Britain’s Got Talent stars have been embroiled in arguments over the years. (Image: Getty)

The 18th series of Britain’s Got Talent is already off to a scintillating start, with long-serving judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon returning to the fold alongside Bruno Tonioli and newcomer, YouTuber-cum-boxer KSI. This season, hundreds of gifted performers, singers, dancers and more are vying for the panel’s approval, including comedian Will Burns, who currently has 5/1 odds of storming the competition.

For almost two decades, the ITV talent show has been churning out some of the biggest names in entertainment. These included dance troupe Diversity, Susan Boyle and ex-Waterloo Road actor George Sampson.

However, the programme has also been plagued with controversy, including fiery feuds between its judges. Previously, Piers Morgan has admitted he refused to work alongside ex-judge David Walliams.

Meanwhile at one point, Amanda and Alesha were allegedly at “loggerheads” over one particular act, while guest judge Kelly Brook claimed there was “nothing [she] could do in this country” after upsetting Ant and Dec.

Below, Express.co.uk has revisited some of the biggest feuds to rock Britain’s Got Talent.

 

 

Simon Cowell and David Walliams

Simon Cowell and David Walliams starred on BGT together for 10 seasons. (Image: Getty)

In 2016, Amanda Holden, 54, claimed Simon Cowell, 65, commented on 53-year-old David Walliams’ break-up with his ex-wife Lara Stone, causing a frosty atmosphere on set.

“David made it personal [first]… he dares it and Simon comes straight back in at him, and the joke ends there because he can always top David,” she told The Sun.

“He’s out-funnied David a lot this series. David is very p***ed off, actually.”

Years later, the Little Britain comedian admitted his relationship with Simon away from the show wasn’t very communicative.

“I haven’t heard from him for about six months,” he told the Daily Star in 2020. “I do think if you’re out of sight you’re out of mind with him.

He went on to say that he believed the music mogul didn’t have a phone, or, if he did, he hadn’t given David his number.

“It might be the latter! But I am in touch with Lauren his partner. She shows me pictures of Eric and I send her pictures of my son, so I hear how he’s doing through her.”

 

Amanda Holden and Sharon Osbourne

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Sharon Osbourne called Amanda a ‘sycophant’ during an online spat (Image: Getty)

Amanda, who has served as a judge with Simon on Britain’s Got Talent since its inception in 2007, and Sharon, 71, who was on The X Factor panel with him between 2004 and 2017, found themselves embroiled in a bitter feud last year.

The argument came about when the latter spoke about her relationship with Simon during her stint on Celebrity Big Brother.

During the reality TV programme, she and fellow X Factor alumnus Louis Walsh, 71, said they were no longer in contact with the “snotty” Syco Entertainment founder.

“I haven’t talked to him at all, nothing, zero,” said Louis, while Sharon replied: “But that’s Simon. He cuts you off. He doesn’t know how to keep friends.”

In response, Amanda called both contestants “bitter and pathetic” claiming Simon was someone who had given them “all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn’t have had.”

“It’s bitter and pathetic. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background – just stabby, stabby, stabby.”

Following her exit from the CBC house, Sharon took to X and wrote that she believed Amanda didn’t understand her history in the music industry and how she was a “global celebrity”.

“Never make comments about my lifestyle given to me by Simon Cowell,” she continued.

“It’s demeaning to me and my husband and all the achievements I have made in my life as you’re making yourself look like an ill-informed sycophantic.”

Amanda later said that she and Sharon had “always got on well” and that she hoped they could have a “laugh” about the situation in the future.

“I was protecting a friend when asked about the situation. It really was a storm in a teacup.”

 

 

Michael McIntyre

Michael McIntyre was only part of BGT for one season. (Image: Getty)

Following Piers’ departure, Michael was drafted in as his immediate replacement.

However, his stint was short-lived. After a full season on the programme, the comedian was hoisted out—a move he claimed was a “blow to [his] ego”.

“I felt rejected and upset. Adding my name to the list of people Simon Cowell had fired was a blow to my ego,” Michael wrote in his autobiography, A Funny Life

“My publicist Gary Farrow had already released a statement saying I’d quit the show to concentrate on my tour, and that became the narrative.

“I jumped before I was pushed. Not out of the train, it wasn’t that bad.”

The father-of-two also claimed the “most positive” thing about his Britain’s Got Talent experience was that “nobody remembers it”.

 

Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon

Reports claim Alesha and Amanda fell out while filming in 2018 (Image: Getty)

Allegedly Amanda and Alesha Dixon, 46, had a temporary falling out during Britain’s Got Talent’s 2018 run.

The pair were allegedly at “loggerheads” after a London fashion designer called Nina Naustdal auditioned with her pet chihuahuas.

While the mother-of-two fell head-over-heels for the pooch patrol, Alesha was less than impressed, remarking that she wasn’t the biggest fan of dogs being dressed up.

“Alesha and Amanda usually agree on most things when it comes to Britain’s Got Talent acts but this time they were at loggerheads,” a source told the Daily Star.

“Alesha normally loves most animal acts like dancing dogs, but this wasn’t her cup of tea. She doesn’t like it when pet owners dress up their animals like children.

“Amanda thought it was funny and charming. And the pair had a fall out.”

 

Kelly Brook and Ant and Dec

Kelly Brook reportedly ‘upset’ Ant and Dec while filming BGT (Image: ITV)

Model and former Strictly Come Dancing competitor Kelly Brook, 45, had a week-long stint as a Britain’s Got Talent judge in 2009.

The 45-year-old took part in the series three audition process, but was allegedly given the boot after a supposed run in with beloved hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 49.

Kelly, who claimed she would have “loved” to stay on the ITV mainstay, claimed bosses told her she had “upset Ant and Dec”, which caused her exit after just six days at the helm.

“There was nothing I could do in this country after Britain’s Got Talent. The people at ITV were telling me that I had upset Ant and Dec and that was it,” Marie Claire reports.

“I would love to have stayed on the show. I really felt it was working out. Ant and Dec had never been anything but pleasant to my face but, clearly, they didn’t want me on the show.”

The Geordie icons have previously said that Kelly asked them what they did on the show on her first day on the set, alluding to the fact she hadn’t watched the show.

 

Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon

Bruno’s wage apparently caused a rift between Amanda and Alesha (Image: Getty)

69-year-old Bruno Tonioli was hired as David’s replacement in 2023, with reports claiming the dancer would be paid a whopping £850,000 to appear on the ITV talent show.

This rumour reportedly sparked tension between Amanda and Alesha, who Hello! Magazine reported were on the same six-figure sum.

“Amanda has been on BGT for 17 years, while Alesha is going into her eleventh year,” a source told The Sun at the time.

“They don’t think it’s fair a newcomer could walk into the show and be handed the same deal as them.”

It was also claimed that the duo had decided to “hold off and stand firm” amid contract negotiations.

However, it appeared there was no real bad blood between Amanda and the former Strictly Come Dancing judge.

The star later told the publication: “He’s a wonderful ball of energy and in a good way he’s already broken every rule… So much so that Simon will probably have to throw out any rulebook this year.”

 

Piers Morgan and David Walliams

Piers Morgan served as a judge on BGT for its first three seasons. (Image: ITV)

Journalist Piers Morgan, 59, starred as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent for the show’s first three seasons before bowing out and making way for Michael McIntyre, 49, who was replaced the following series by Alesha.

In 2020, Piers was allegedly asked to fill in for Simon on the programme after the head panellist had broken his back in a biking accident.

However, the job was allegedly passed to Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, 36, due to Piers’ flat-out refusal to work with David.

“I couldn’t work with Walliams. I think he is a duplicitous, treacherous piece of work,” he said.

“He is one of those people who says one thing to your face and then sticks it to you behind your back. If he was sitting there I wouldn’t be interested. But if he wasn’t sitting there, who knows?